Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of bringing school summer holidays forwards, given that routine teaching will most likely be more viable in August than it is now.

We want to get all children back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn and it is good for children’s mental wellbeing to have social interactions with other children, carers and teachers.

As a result of the huge efforts everyone has made to adhere to strict social distancing measures, the transmission rate of coronavirus has decreased and the Government’s five tests have been met. Based on all the evidence, the Department has asked primary schools to welcome back children in nursery, Reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside priority groups (vulnerable children and children of critical workers), from 1 June. From 15 June, secondary schools can invite year 10 and 12 pupils (years 10 and 11 for alternative provision schools) back into school for some face-to-face support with their teachers, to supplement their remote education, which will remain the predominant mode of education for these pupils this term. Priority groups can continue to attend full-time.