£700 million to help students catch up on lost learning

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced a new £700 million plan to help young people in England catch up on lost learning due to the pandemic.

From 8 March all children and students will return to face-to-face education in schools and colleges. It has now been revealed that this will be supported with a new £700 million package, focusing on an expansion of one-to-one and small group tutoring programmes, as well as supporting the development of disadvantaged children in early years settings, and summer provision for those pupils who need it the most.

The new recovery package for England includes: a new one-off £302 million Recovery Premium for state primary and secondary schools, building on the Pupil Premium, to further support pupils who need it most (from which the average primary school will receive around £6,000 extra, and the average secondary school around £22,000 extra); £200 million from a previously announced £300 million to fund the expansion of the National Tutoring Programme for primary and secondary schools; and £100 million, plus £100 million of previously promised funding, for secondary schools to deliver face-to-face summer schools.

Williamson said: “Our package of measures will deliver vital support to the children and young people who need it most, making sure everyone has the same opportunity to fulfil their potential no matter their background. I know that longer-term support over the length of this parliament will be vital to ensure children make up for lost learning. Our Education Recovery Commissioner, Sir Kevan Collins, will be engaging with teachers, school and college leaders and families over the coming weeks and months to develop our longer term plans.”