After Covid isolation meant that 10 million children missed school last year, ministers have been asked to ensure schools reopen in January.
Bridget Phillipson, shadow education secretary, highlighted the shocking number of secondaries and primaries that were missed. She demanded more vaccines for 12-15-year-olds.
According to the most recent statistics, 235,600 were lost due to Covid-related causes – including being told self-isolate on December 9. Only 88.9% attended.
Labour claimed that children are promised a “return to normality” and should be protected with more jabs.
Nadhim Zahawi, Education Secretary, played down concerns that schools might not return to their regular schedules in the new year.
Sky News told him that he would do all he could to ensure schools remained open. It is vital that young people are educated and attend school.
Phillipson stated that she would like to see an “vaccine guarantee” for all children aged 12-15 years over Christmas.
Ten million days is 10 million missed opportunities for children and their families to play, learn, and grow together. The promise was made to parents and children for a normal school year.
“Instead, ministers allow the virus to wreck havoc with children’s education. This must stop.
Nadhim Zahawi (left), said that children had been promised a return to normality and needed more protection through jabs. Nadhim Zahawi, Education Secretary (right), downplayed the possibility of schools returning in time for the new year.
Bedford primary school children in class earlier in the year
Last week, Zahawi encouraged school leaders and ex-teachers “to sign up” to assist with Covid-19 staff shortfalls.
According to the minister, government was looking into measures that would ‘boost supply’. He added that top officials from Department for Education (DfE), have been discussing potential plans with key stakeholders.
Reports indicate that there are some schools experiencing very low student and teacher attendance ahead of the Christmas holiday.
Unions of head teachers have expressed concern about disruption to in-person classes in the new school year, if Omicron results in even more absences.
School leaders and academy chain chiefs are preparing for the possibility of having to switch to online learning next term – and some pupils have been asked to take laptops home before Christmas just in case.
M. Zahawi sent an email to college and school leaders before the Christmas break. He stated: “We know that supply staff can become a problem in places with high levels of absence.” It is our goal to ensure that schools and colleges have access to as much supply staff as we can.
The Education Secretary said: “We will collaborate with sector leaders, supply agencies over these coming days to offer advice for ex-teachers looking to support schools or colleges.
“We will assist them in registering with supply agencies to increase the number of temporary workers available for the sector.”
Mr Zahawi made a plea for heads Thursday. He said, “In the appeal to heads, you can now support this effort through your personal and professional networks to encourage others sign up to provide temporary aid.”
In addition, the DfE announced that it would extend its workforce fund to schools and colleges with the most funding and staffing challenges in Covid-19 until the February half-term.
The latest DfE data showed that 24% of school leaders and teachers were absent in schools England because Covid-19 was a reason for their absence on December 9. This is up from 2.0% as reported on November 25,
Labour and the education unions have both warned that government actions won’t be enough to fix the staff shortage problem.