All children back to school in September - as Education Secretary says distancing guidelines to be available ‘within the next two weeks'

Here’s what we learned about the return of schools and the coronavirus pandemic from Friday’s Government press conference.
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Education Secretary Gavin Williamson chaired Friday evening’s Downing Street briefing alone as he updated the public on the situation regarding the return of schools.

Latest figures

The Education Secretary opened the briefing by acknowledging the reduction of the UK’s coronavirus threat level from 'level four’ to ‘level three’ but stressed that the virus remains in general circulation and the pandemic ‘isn't over'.

Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (COVID-19). Photo: PA Video/PA WireSecretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (COVID-19). Photo: PA Video/PA Wire
Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (COVID-19). Photo: PA Video/PA Wire
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Mr Williamson said that 42,461 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Thursday, up by 173 from 42,288 the day before.

The Government figures do not include all deaths involving Covid-19 across the UK, which is thought to have passed 53,000.

In the 24-hour period up to 9am on Friday, 169,600 tests were carried out or dispatched, with 1,346 positive results.

Overall, a total of 7,433,114 tests have been carried out and 301,815 cases have been confirmed positive.

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The figure for the number of people tested has been "temporarily paused to ensure consistent reporting" across all methods of testing.

All children in England will return to school in September

The Education Secretary confirmed the Government intends to bring all children back to school in September.

He told the daily Downing Street press conference: "School is vital for every one of our children. That is why we will bring all children, in all year groups, back to school in September.

"While many children have already returned to school, I do understand that there is anxiety still among parents.

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"I want to assure you that the wellbeing of your children is the absolute top priority for every single one of us."

Answering a later question, Mr Williamson reaffirmed that the Government wanted to bring "every child back, in every year group, in every school".

He said the tutoring programme can "deliver the biggest benefit" for children who have fallen behind during the pandemic.

"This is going to make a massive difference to children's lives," he said.

Further social distancing guidelines to be made available ‘within the next two weeks’

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Mr Williamson said ministers would publish guidance for schools on how to bring children back "within the next two weeks".

He told the Downing Street briefing: "This is why we've said clearly we're going to be publishing the further guidance within the next two weeks so that schools have the maximum amount of time to prepare for the next phase of welcoming children back."

On social distancing, the Education Secretary said the ‘two-metre rule’ remains under review but couldn’t give an exact date for any potential changes to be put in place.

Class sizes to expand for autumn return

The Education Secretary said the Government is looking at creating larger "bubbles" to allow class sizes to expand in time for the autumn term.

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Gavin Williamson said: "We've been creating bubbles of children in the classroom, creating a protective environment for those children.

"Currently that is at 15, what we would be looking at doing is expanding those bubbles to include the whole class."

He said signs the virus was reducing meant ministers could look at "making sure every child returns to school".

Mr Williamson added: "We recognise there is still going to have to be protective measures put in place to make sure children are safe and make sure that teachers and all those who work in school are safe as well, and that is why we are going to be issuing further guidance in the next two weeks."

Government to launch £1bn education 'catch-up’ plan

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Gavin Williamson said the Government would "not allow an entire generation to lose out on their education".

"That's why we're launching a £1 billion Covid catch-up plan that will lift outcomes for all pupils," he said.

Asked if he wanted teachers to work over the summer, Gavin Williamson said one of the schemes in the Covid catch-up plan is to have children back to schools during the holidays.

"We recognise that it's really important for the schools to be able to tailor their plan for their children to make sure it delivers the maximum impact so those children catch up and really succeed," he said.

Catch-up plan to include funding for personal tuition

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Mr Williamson said the Government was hopeful that the personal tuition programme, announced as part of £1 billion of funding to aid pupils in catching up on missed teaching time during the lockdown, would help recover lost ground.

He said: "We've taken the approach of personal tutoring because we recognise that all the evidence points to the fact that this can make the single biggest difference to children's lives.

"The evidence seems to point to the fact that if a child has 12 weeks of this personal tutoring for just two hours a week, it can deliver up to five months' worth of catch-up for those children from the most disadvantaged communities.

"And what we are looking at is how this works, how this impact really, really changes the educational outcomes of children.

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"We're very confident it will make a big, big difference and this is why we've focused on these efforts and we'll be looking at how we support schools, whether through the use of the pupil premium, as to how we can continue to build on evidence-based initiatives that deliver brilliant outcomes for our young people.

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