STRUGGLING schools will get a £1billion lifeline to hire tutors to help kids catch up on their studies, it was revealed yesterday.
Ministers want to ensure the “Covid Generation” can bounce back after falling behind by missing months of school since lockdown began in March.
It came as Boris Johnson faced pressure to follow Northern Ireland’s lead yesterday to halve social distancing to one metre to get more youngsters back into classes.
The one-off cash package will see £650million pumped into state schools in the next year.
Another £350million will fund tutoring for the most disadvantaged children.
Heads will decide how the money will be spent but No 10 wants it to go on the most “effective” interventions such as small group tutoring.
It can also be used to hire private tutors or extra teachers.
The PM has been under pressure to act after going back on a vow to get all primary pupils back to class for a month before summer.
Instead, only children in nursery, reception and Years One and Six have returned.
In secondaries, only Years Ten and 12 are guaranteed any time in class before summer.
It comes after a report revealed 2.3million kids had done little or no schoolwork at home in lockdown.
Unveiling his Covid Catch Up Plan, Mr Johnson said the money would help head teachers provide “extra support to children who have fallen behind while out of school”.
In a message to parents juggling work and home schooling, he said: “I am determined to do everything I can to get all children back in school from September, and we’ll bring forward plans on how this will happen as soon as possible.”
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the cash would ensure that all children will get the education, opportunities and outcomes they deserve.
‘POSITIVE LEGACY’
He said the plan would be delivered over the next academic year and bring long-term reform to education that would protect a generation of children from the effects of the pandemic.
He said: “We cannot afford for any of our children to lose out as a result of Covid-19.
“The scale of our response must match the scale of the challenge.”
Professor Becky Francis, boss of the Education Endowment Foundation charity, welcomed the money.
She said: “Tutoring is the catch-up approach supported by the strongest evidence we have.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to offer bespoke support for disadvantaged pupils, and build a positive legacy from the present crisis.”
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland said it hoped to get all pupils back by the start of September by halving social distancing.
Former Cabinet minister David Davis said the Government should look to copy the “eminently sensible” measure to get kids back to class quicker.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the virus would have to be “under control” for England to follow suit and the two-metre rule was under review.
He said: “Removing it has an impact in terms of disease transmission.”
