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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Nigel Nelson

Children's school Covid catch-up plan worth just 99p a day is branded an 'insult'

Gavin Williamson’s education catch-up plan is worth a measly 99p for each day lost per pupil.

Labour analysis shows children missed 95 days in class because of the pandemic – around half a school year.

And the party branded the £1.4billion announced by the Education Secretary last week an “insult”.

The money will fund six million 15-hour tutoring courses for disadvantaged kids, along with an expanded tuition fund for 16-19s.

But it “does not come close” to what is required, according to former Covid catch-up czar Sir Kevan Collins.

He quit in protest after saying a £15bn package was needed.

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Our children need more than 99p a day to catch up (Getty)

Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green said: “After missing so much school because of the pandemic, kids deserve proper support to catch up.

“A pound a day is an insult. The Conservatives have treated children and families as an afterthought throughout the pandemic and are now neglecting them in our recovery.”

In total the Tories’ schools catch-up plan amounts to £310 per pupil, the Institute of Fiscal Studies says, compared to £1,600 in the US.

Authorities in the Netherlands have allocated around £2,500 for each child.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has been slammed (PA)

Labour wants to see £9billion spent on extra activities – from breakfast clubs to sport and drama. And the party says £1.34bn is needed for tutoring in schools and colleges.

A further £1.24billion should be spent on an Education Recovery Premium for schools, early years, colleges and 6th forms, it believes.

On Wednesday Labour will force a Commons vote on Mr Williamson’s plan in a bid to squeeze more money out of Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Children from poorer households who have struggled most with home learning face an attainment gap of up to 24% against better-off peers. And 90,000 kids are behind on literacy as they start secondary school.

A Government source said: “We have never embarked on tutoring on this scale. Now we are making it available to millions of kids.”

Meanwhile, Mr Williamson is urging all students to get tested for Covid before returning tomorrow.

He said: “Asymptomatic testing helps break chains of transmission.”

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