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The ongoing situation and school closures as result of Covid-19 have a number of different implications for the education sector. We want to dig deeper into these issues, with help from the experts. This week, Dr Beng Huat See, Associate Professor (Research) in the School of Education at Durham University, looks at teacher wellbeing during the lockdown period.

In response to the government announcement of £1 billion towards Covid ‘catch-up’, we sent out a survey to ask our the school leaders in our network about the tutoring programme that forms part of this fund. The survey received over 100 responses, representing schools and trusts in every Local Authority in the North East.

Children, parents and staff at a Northumberland school have been excited to hear the news of plans to reopen fully, and welcome back all pupils for a month before the summer break.

The ongoing situation and school closures as result of Covid-19 have a number of different implications for the education sector. We want to dig deeper into these issues, with help from the experts. This week, Fiona Spellman, CEO of SHINE Trust, looks at the long term issues that Covid-19 has exposed.

After Boris Johnson promised a ‘massive catch up operation’ last week, it has emerged that the Government will invest £1 billion into schools, aimed at a year long programme of private tutoring in efforts to make up for the learning loss from Covid-19.

The Government had originally released statements saying that FSM would not be funded over the summer holiday period. Despite the Department for Education repeatedly stating that they would not fund Free School Meals over the summer, the high profile campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford succeeded in changing the government’s mind this week. For many school leaders in disadvantaged areas this is a welcome announcement, as it supports families who are struggling more than ever due to furlough, or job losses as a result of the pandemic. Vouchers will be provided via the existing system run by Edenred and schools will be asked to put in orders before the start of the holidays.

Union leaders were grilled by the Education Select Committee on Wednesday.

The ongoing situation and school closures as result of Covid-19 have a number of different implications for the education sector. We want to dig deeper into these issues, with help from the experts. This week, Dave Bradley, England Development Manager (UK Cost of the School Day), Child Poverty Action Group, explores the cost of learning in lockdown.

Government ambiguity around key issues such as the return of schools in September, proposed summer ‘catch up’ provision and opening, assessment and inspection mean that school leaders are finding it impossible to plan for the remainder of this and next academic year.

Barley Fields Primary School have shared their story of how they have adapted their school days to fit their key worker families and their plans for the future as schools are set to reopen.

Yesterday Schools North East hosted another of its regular roundtable discussions for Multi-Academy Trust CEOs, representing schools from across the region, to discuss the challenges that schools now face as they deal with the lifting of lockdown restrictions, and begin to plan for the next academic year.

The ongoing situation and school closures as result of Covid-19 have a number of different implications for the education sector. We want to dig deeper into these issues, with help from the experts. This week, Dr Beng Huat See, Associate Professor (Research) in the School of Education at Durham University, explores the data on the wider extended opening of primaries.