SCHOOLS Minister Nick Gibb will face questions from the Education Committee on the science behind school closures, plans for reopening and how the DfE is protecting the most vulnerable children during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The session comes after the Chair of the Committee, Robert Halfon MP, secured the Schools Minister for questioning on concerns raised by parents, teachers and support staff in Harlow. The Committee will seek to address matters including PPE, social distancing guidance, free school meals, exam cancellations and the scientific basis for the phased reopenings.

The session is part of the ongoing inquiry into the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on education and children’s services and is likely to focus on the criteria required for schools to reopen and the scientific advice that underpins them, as well as what needs to be done to ensure disadvantaged pupils are not further left-behind further as a result of the pandemic.

Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Chair of the Education Committee, said:

“Given the concerns that parents, teachers and support staff in Harlow have raised with me about the Government’s school reopening plans on 1 June, I worked hard to get the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, to appear before our Committee for questioning.

There is huge and understandable concern that every day our young people are away from the classroom harms their prospects, with disadvantaged pupils at particular risk of falling behind still further. Increasing evidence suggests that a significant number of children from disadvantaged backgrounds have not had access to online learning, or even any education at all. The Children’s Commissioner has warned that these children particularly are exposed to ‘a cocktail of secondary risks’ during the lockdown.

Dedicated teachers and support staff have been working hard over the last couple of months to ensure children get the best education possible from home, but there can be no substitute for them being back amongst their friends at school, learning again and getting the vital pastoral care that schools provide.

I know there is much debate over how and when to reopen our schools, but everyone involved in education will be united in their commitment and determination to do the very best for our young people. It is important that reopening is guided by the science and we will be pressing the Minister on what is being done to ensure the safest possible learning environment for pupils and staff.

The Committee is also dedicated to protecting our most vulnerable children and will be asking what is being done by the DfE to help disadvantaged pupils catch up and protect them from the worst effects of the pandemic.”

Witness schedule

From 0930am

Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for School Standards
Andrew McCully, Director for Early Years and Schools, Department for Education