Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will provide additional catch-up educational support for days missed at school as a result of the covid-19 outbreak since 21 June 2021.

Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the Department has provided extensive support for schools and acted swiftly to help minimise the effect on pupils’ education. Being in school is vital for pupils’ education, wellbeing, and development, and the Department has kept schools open for as long as possible whilst managing the spread of COVID-19.

Since June 2020, the Department has announced more than £3 billion to support education recovery which will help in closing gaps that have emerged. This includes over £900 million that schools can use as they see best to support the children and young people who have been most affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Government is committed to an ambitious, long term education recovery plan and the next stage will include a review of time spent in school and college, and the effect this could have on helping children and young people to catch up. The findings of the review will be set out later in the year to inform the Spending Review. The Department will also continue to consider what steps we need to take to support children and young people to catch up following our latest education recovery announcement on 2 June 2021.