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1233373

registered interest
date	10/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding his Department made available through exceptional costs during the covid-19 outbreak between March and July 2020.
tabling member constituency	Wirral West
tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
uin	88338
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2020 answer text <p>We are providing additional funding to schools, on top of existing budgets, to cover unavoidable costs incurred between March and July due to the COVID-19 outbreak that cannot be met from their existing resources.</p><p>Schools are eligible to claim for: increased premises related costs associated with keeping schools open over the Easter and summer half term holidays; support for free school meals for eligible children who are not in school, where schools are not using the national voucher scheme; and additional cleaning costs required due to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, over and above the cost of existing cleaning arrangements.</p><p>The first claims window for the COVID-19 schools fund closed on 21 July. There will be a further opportunity in the autumn for schools to claim for exceptional costs that occurred between March and July. This second claims window will be for available for schools who were unable to claim in the summer and will be for the same eligible cost categories.</p><p>Schools have claimed £104 million against the standard expenditure categories in the fund, as set out above. Schools have already received payments of £58 million against the standard expenditure categories.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 88339 question first answered 15/09/2020 15:26:33 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1233374

registered interest
date	10/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the total value is of claims made by schools under the exceptional costs programme from March to July 2020.
tabling member constituency	Wirral West
tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
uin	88339
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2020 answer text <p>We are providing additional funding to schools, on top of existing budgets, to cover unavoidable costs incurred between March and July due to the COVID-19 outbreak that cannot be met from their existing resources.</p><p>Schools are eligible to claim for: increased premises related costs associated with keeping schools open over the Easter and summer half term holidays; support for free school meals for eligible children who are not in school, where schools are not using the national voucher scheme; and additional cleaning costs required due to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, over and above the cost of existing cleaning arrangements.</p><p>The first claims window for the COVID-19 schools fund closed on 21 July. There will be a further opportunity in the autumn for schools to claim for exceptional costs that occurred between March and July. This second claims window will be for available for schools who were unable to claim in the summer and will be for the same eligible cost categories.</p><p>Schools have claimed £104 million against the standard expenditure categories in the fund, as set out above. Schools have already received payments of £58 million against the standard expenditure categories.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 88338 question first answered 15/09/2020 15:26:33 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1233435

registered interest
date	10/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the scientific evidence on wearing face coverings in communal areas in schools to reduce the risk of transmission of covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Wirral West
tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
uin	88340
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2020 answer text <p>On 21 August 2020, the World Health Organisation published a new statement advising that “children aged 12 and over should wear face coverings under the same conditions as adults, particularly when they cannot guarantee at least a 1 metre distance from others and there is widespread transmission in the area.” As a result, the Department has revised its guidance on face coverings in schools and colleges, which can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-in-education/face-coverings-in-education" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-in-education/face-coverings-in-education</a>.</p><p>The guidance outlines that in areas of national government intervention, in schools where year 7 and above are educated, face coverings should be worn by staff, visitors and pupils when moving around indoors. This includes corridors and communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain.</p><p>Nationwide, the Government is not recommending that face coverings are necessary in schools generally because a system of controls provides additional mitigating measures. However, schools have the discretion to require face coverings in indoor communal areas where social distancing cannot be safely managed, if they believe that it is right in their particular circumstances.</p><p>In primary schools where social distancing is not possible in indoor areas outside of classrooms between members of staff or visitors, head teachers have the discretion to decide whether to ask staff or visitors to wear, or agree to them wearing, face coverings in these circumstances. However, children in primary school do not need to wear a face covering.</p><p>Based on current evidence, and in light of the mitigating measures schools are already putting in place, face coverings will not be necessary in the classroom. Face coverings would have a negative impact on teaching and their use in the classroom should be avoided.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 15/09/2020 15:38:44 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1232813

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the reduced ability of schools to ventilate classrooms during winter months on the safety of (a) teachers and (b) pupils during the covid-19; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
uin	87625
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>On 2 July we published guidance to help schools prepare for all pupils, in all year groups, to return to school full-time from the beginning of the autumn term. The guidance can be viewed at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools</a>.</p><p>The above guidance sets out a system of controls which provide a framework for school leaders to put in place a range of proportionate protective measures for children and staff, which also ensure that all pupils receive a high quality education that enables them to thrive and progress. Measures include minimising contacts between groups and maintaining distance where possible, encouraging regular handwashing, and enhanced cleaning.</p><p>This includes advice that once the school is in operation, it is important to ensure good ventilation and maximise this wherever possible, for example, by opening windows and propping open doors, as long as they are not fire doors, where safe to do so (bearing in mind safeguarding in particular). Arrangements for ventilation will vary in each setting based on individual circumstances.</p><p>Advice on this can be found in Health and Safety Executive guidance on air conditioning and ventilation during the COVID-19 outbreak available at <a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/equipment-and-machinery/air-conditioning-and-ventilation.htm" target="_blank">https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/equipment-and-machinery/air-conditioning-and-ventilation.htm</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 87626 question first answered 14/09/2020 15:27:12 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1232814

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that schools can properly ventilate classrooms in the winter months during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
uin	87626
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>On 2 July we published guidance to help schools prepare for all pupils, in all year groups, to return to school full-time from the beginning of the autumn term. The guidance can be viewed at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools</a>.</p><p>The above guidance sets out a system of controls which provide a framework for school leaders to put in place a range of proportionate protective measures for children and staff, which also ensure that all pupils receive a high quality education that enables them to thrive and progress. Measures include minimising contacts between groups and maintaining distance where possible, encouraging regular handwashing, and enhanced cleaning.</p><p>This includes advice that once the school is in operation, it is important to ensure good ventilation and maximise this wherever possible, for example, by opening windows and propping open doors, as long as they are not fire doors, where safe to do so (bearing in mind safeguarding in particular). Arrangements for ventilation will vary in each setting based on individual circumstances.</p><p>Advice on this can be found in Health and Safety Executive guidance on air conditioning and ventilation during the COVID-19 outbreak available at <a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/equipment-and-machinery/air-conditioning-and-ventilation.htm" target="_blank">https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/equipment-and-machinery/air-conditioning-and-ventilation.htm</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 87625 question first answered 14/09/2020 15:27:12 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1232815

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Teachers: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of the additional teacher timetable planning required as a result of the covid-19 on the workloads of teachers.
tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
uin	87627
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government is grateful for the continued hard work of head teachers, teachers and support staff in their efforts to ensure that all pupils, in all year groups, have been able to return to school full-time from the beginning of the autumn term.</p><p>Our guidance for the full opening of schools recognises that schools may need to alter the way in which they deploy their staff and use existing staff more flexibly. Managers should discuss and agree any changes to staff roles with individuals. It is important that planning builds in the need to avoid increases in unnecessary and unmanageable workload burdens. The Department has published a range of resources, including case studies to support remote education, that help address staff workload: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/case-studies-remote-education-practice-for-schools-during-coronavirus-covid-19" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/case-studies-remote-education-practice-for-schools-during-coronavirus-covid-19</a></p><p>Over the next few months, we will continue to work closely with school leaders, teachers and their representatives to continue to address workload issues and provide support for schools.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 14/09/2020 16:08:41 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1232904

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Sports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to encourage schools to reopen their outdoor sports facilities in the evenings and weekends for (a) their own students and (b) external sports clubs.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	87613
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>It is important that children continue to remain fit and active and take part in the 60 minutes of daily physical activity recommended by the Chief Medical Officers wherever possible.</p><p> </p><p>Schools have the flexibility to decide how physical education, sport and physical activity will be provided for their own students, following the measures in their system of controls. The Department’s guidance includes information on how schools can provide PE and opportunities for pupils to be active, including links to detailed advice from subject organisations. Schools are able to offer curricular and extra-curricular team sport, including contact sport, where there is approved guidance from national governing bodies. Guidance can be found via the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Schools are also able to open up their facilities for use by external sports clubs at evenings and weekends. In doing so, they should ensure they are considering carefully how such arrangements can operate within their wider protective measures and should also have regard to any other relevant government guidance. For example, when opening up sports facilities for external use, the guidance issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on working safely during the COVID-19 outbreak for providers of grassroots sport and gym or leisure facilities should be followed: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/providers-of-grassroots-sport-and-gym-leisure-facilities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/providers-of-grassroots-sport-and-gym-leisure-facilities</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Schools and external providers should also consult the guidance produced for those who run community activities, holiday clubs, after-school clubs, tuition and other out-of-school provision for children: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 14/09/2020 15:54:09 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1233042

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Assessments: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of pupils taking a different form of end-of-year assessment due to the covid-19 outbreak at the end of the 2020-21 academic year.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	87596
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>Exams and assessments are the best and fairest way of judging students’ performance, and the Department expects next year’s exam series to go ahead. The Department is working closely with Ofqual, the exam boards and groups representing teachers, schools and colleges to ensure that this happens as smoothly as possible. Ofqual has already consulted on a range of possible adaptations to GCSE, AS and A level exams and assessments next year, on a subject by subject basis, and has announced some changes that will reduce pressure on teaching time, and help to ensure that the young people taking exams next year have the same opportunities to progress as the students before them.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 87598 question first answered 14/09/2020 15:15:29 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1233044

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Assessments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons his Department is not planning to introduce a combination of end-of-year and continuous assessment at the end of the 2020-21 academic year.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	87598
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>Exams and assessments are the best and fairest way of judging students’ performance, and the Department expects next year’s exam series to go ahead. The Department is working closely with Ofqual, the exam boards and groups representing teachers, schools and colleges to ensure that this happens as smoothly as possible. Ofqual has already consulted on a range of possible adaptations to GCSE, AS and A level exams and assessments next year, on a subject by subject basis, and has announced some changes that will reduce pressure on teaching time, and help to ensure that the young people taking exams next year have the same opportunities to progress as the students before them.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 87596 question first answered 14/09/2020 15:15:29 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1233046

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Vocational Education: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that Btec assessments can be adapted in the event of further lockdown restrictions placed on educational settings during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	87599
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>The Department has been working with Ofqual regarding requirements for assessments and examinations for vocational and technical qualifications, which include BTEC qualifications, in the 2020/21 academic year. Ofqual is currently consulting and engaging with awarding organisations to agree revisions to its Extraordinary Regulatory Framework and its associated guidance on how awarding organisations can adapt assessments in 2020/21 to take account of any public health restrictions.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 14/09/2020 16:41:53 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell