Tuesday Volume 675 5 May 2020 No. 54 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 5 May 2020 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2020 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 475 5 MAY 2020 476 to provide devices and internet access to vulnerable children House of Commons and published a list of high-quality online educational resources, and we continue to support parents and Tuesday 5 May 2020 teachers in supporting children at home. Julian Sturdy [V]: Headteachers in York have told me The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock of their frustration that they will have to wait at least another month until they can provide students with laptops under the Government’s scheme. What assurances PRAYERS can my right hon. Friend give me that support will be available to schools in the meantime to help their most [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] disadvantaged students learn from home? The House entered into hybrid scrutiny proceedings (Order, 22 April). Gavin Williamson: As I am sure my hon. Friend will understand, £100 million for computers and other support [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] for schools is a major investment, and it takes a while for these resources to arrive at schools. We have already notified multi-academy trusts and local authorities of Oral Answers to Questions what resources they will be getting, and we continue to work to provide resources,with the BBC providing resources in the homes of children right across the country. EDUCATION Nigel Mills [V]: Parents across Amber Valley have been doing a fantastic job of supporting their children to continue to learn while their schools are closed. Will The Secretary of State was asked— my right hon. Friend join me in thanking them and set out what more we can do to support them to help their Covid-19: Home Learning children continue to learn? Julian Sturdy (York Outer) (Con): What steps he is Gavin Williamson: I would very much like to join my taking to support children and young people to continue hon. Friend in thanking the teachers and all the support learning at home while nurseries, schools and colleges staff who have done so much to support home learning are partially closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak. and ensure that schools remain open for the children of [902238] critical workers and the most vulnerable children. We have seen the launch of the Oak National Academy, Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con): What steps he is which is providing educational resources for children of taking to support children and young people to continue all ages to support them in their learning, and we are learning at home while nurseries, schools and colleges looking at putting more and more resources online, to are partially closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak. help schools and, most importantly, to help children [902239] continue to learn. Brendan Clarke-Smith (Bassetlaw) (Con): What steps Brendan Clarke-Smith [V]: I very much welcome the he is taking to support children and young people to funding for IT equipment, because there is nothing continue learning at home while nurseries, schools and worse than when computer says no. Can my right hon. colleges are partially closed as a result of the covid-19 Friend confirm that the laptops and tablets provided to outbreak. [902241] disadvantaged and vulnerable young people will not just benefit them while schools are closed, but will Lee Anderson (Ashfield) (Con): What steps he is taking continue to be used by their schools to aid learning in to support children and young people to continue learning the future? at home while nurseries, schools and colleges are partially closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak. [902242] Gavin Williamson: My hon. Friend is right in his analysis. It is not just about helping children during this Mrs Flick Drummond (Meon Valley) (Con): What crisis; it is about helping and supporting children for steps he is taking to support children and young people many months and years to come, ensuring that schools to continue learning at home while nurseries, schools and continue to have that resource and helping many children colleges are partially closed as a result of the covid-19 through that resource over a long period. We recognise outbreak. [902249] that a lot of work needs to be done to support children as they catch up on what they have missed, because James Cartlidge (South Suffolk) (Con): What steps there is no substitute for a child being in a classroom, he is taking to support children and young people to learning directly from a teacher. continue learning at home while nurseries, schools and colleges are partially closed as a result of the covid-19 Lee Anderson [V]: School closures will, of course, outbreak. [902254] affect children of all ages and backgrounds in different ways. Children from more disadvantaged backgrounds The Secretary of State for Education (Gavin Williamson): are much less likely to have access to the internet via a I am determined to help learning continue in these mobile or tablet. Will the Secretary of State confirm that challenging times. We have committed over £100 million devices with internet access are being sent to disadvantaged 477 Oral Answers 5 MAY 2020 Oral Answers 478 children, so that they can learn online more easily? That were looking at best practice in other countries; this would certainly help to ensure that the disadvantaged weekend, it was reported that the Government would children in my constituency of Ashfield and Eastwood, reopen schools for year 6 pupils on 1 June; and last which the Minister visited recently, are not further night, it was reported that there were discussions in disadvantaged by this crisis. Government about giving schools and multi-academy trusts the flexibility to decide for themselves, amid Gavin Williamson: I had the great privilege of joining concerns that Ministers were coming under pressure to my hon. Friend on a visit to Leamington primary help to kick-start the economy. I am sure the Secretary school in his constituency, to see the amazing work of State will want to reassure parents, pupils and staff being done there. We have made substantial investment that their safety is the Government’s No. 1 priority, so in not just laptops but 4G routers, to ensure that families will he clarify the basis on which the Government are have better access to the internet and that children can making decisions on school and college opening, and benefit from the brilliant resources, many of which have when will he make the scientific advice supporting his been made available for free by people, companies and strategy publicly available? organisations, to allow children to continue to learn. Gavin Williamson: First, let me take this opportunity to congratulate the hon. Lady on her new appointment. Mrs Drummond [V]: Will my right hon. Friend join I appreciate the time she has made available to speak me in congratulating schools in Hampshire on their with me, and I hope the regular briefings from officials success in ensuring that 31% of vulnerable children are that we are providing are of considerable assistance to attending school, and in thanking all the teachers, school her, as I think they were to her predecessor. staff and children, particularly those in Meon Valley, for their hard work both in school and at home? Has he All SAGE advice is made public, and we will certainly assessed the impact on the mental health of children do that. On the return of schools, I am sure the hon. and young people during the coronavirus crisis? Lady shares my desire for children to be given the opportunity to return to school when it is the right time Gavin Williamson: I do indeed join my hon. Friend in to do so. The decision will be based on the scientific and thanking the teachers, the support staff, the social workers, medical advice that we receive. I assure her that we will Hampshire County Council and all those who have take a phased approach to reopening schools, and we been involved in making sure that schools stay open will always aim to give schools, parents and, critically, and available for vulnerable children. They have done children maximum notice of when that will happen. amazing work. The attendance rate she highlights is truly outstanding. Since the Easter holidays, we have Rebecca Long Bailey: I thank the Secretary of State seen a doubling of the number of vulnerable children for his kind comments. He must understand that faith who are attending school, and that is down to the work that children and staff are safe will be necessary to of teachers, school staff and social workers, reaching parents having the confidence to send their children to out and encouraging them to come into school. Mental school, but nearly 1 million pupils in English schools health, which my hon. Friend also raised, is an important are in classes of 31 or more—an increase of 28% since issue. That is why we have committed £5 million of 2010—so there is understandable concern that social funding to support charities to help children with mental distancing will be difficult in schools. Everyone wants a health concerns and issues while they are at home. return to vital education to support pupils and to stop the ever-widening attainment gap, but does the Secretary of State agree that first we need a national plan for James Cartlidge [V]: While schools are closed, the social distancing and personal protective equipment, issues of home-school transport affecting my constituents evidence of a sustained downward trend in cases, have effectively been paused, but they will come back comprehensive access to testing for staff and pupils, a eventually and potentially result, for example, in siblings whole-school strategy for when cases emerge,and protection having to go to separate schools.