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1195471

registered interest
date	13/05/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Trade Unions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many meetings he has had since 16 March 2020 with school (a) leadership unions, (b) teaching unions and (c) support staff unions.
tabling member constituency	Warrington North
tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
uin	46816
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2020 answer text <p>The Department has been engaging widely with a wide range of stakeholders at both official and ministerial level, including headteacher, teacher and support staff unions, including through meetings listed below.</p><p>Details of weekly engagement are set out below:</p><ul><li>Weekly meetings with senior policy officials and key stakeholders along with other main teaching unions, governance, social care, school trusts and local government;</li><li>A weekly meeting with wider stakeholders including support staff, further education and school business organisations;</li><li>Weekly calls for evidence from key stakeholders on key policy questions to inform decision making on reopening;</li><li>Weekly meetings between my right hon. Friend, my right hon. Friend, Secretary of State for Education and the main teaching unions and stakeholder groups; and</li><li>Ad hoc additional stakeholder meetings to address key issues as and when they arise.</li></ul><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 22/05/2020 12:55:08 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1195491

registered interest
date	13/05/2020
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, whether teachers in schools are allowed to wear face masks when teaching children during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	46554
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>Wearing a face covering or face mask in schools is not recommended. Face coverings may be beneficial for short periods indoors where there is a risk of close social contact with people from other households and where social distancing and other measures cannot be maintained (for example, on public transport or in some shops). This does not apply to schools, which should therefore not require staff, children and learners to wear face coverings. Cleaning and maintaining hygiene are important measures in controlling the spread of the virus.</p><p>Guidance for schools on how to implement protective measures can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 18/05/2020 16:18:49 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

1195499

registered interest
date	13/05/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pupils: Attendance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether parents who do not let their child return to school as covid-19 lockdown measures are eased will face fines for their child’s non-attendance.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	46558
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2020 answer text <p>From the week commencing 1 June, at the earliest, we will be asking primary schools to welcome back children in nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside priority groups (vulnerable children and children of critical workers). We will only do this provided that the five key tests set by government justify the changes at the time.</p><p>By returning pupils gradually, settings can initially reduce the number of children and young people in classrooms compared to usual and put protective measures in place to reduce risks.</p><p>Eligible children – including priority groups - are strongly encouraged to attend their education setting, unless they are self-isolating or they are clinically vulnerable. Parents will not be fined for non-attendance at this time and schools will not be held to account for attendance levels.</p><p>Further guidance for parents and carers can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 46521 question first answered 22/05/2020 12:43:34 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

1195512

registered interest
date	13/05/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Supply Teachers: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to support supply teachers when the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is withdrawn.
tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
uin	46637
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by Covid-19.</p><p>There is comprehensive support available for supply teachers during the Covid-19 outbreak, and the Department has provided detailed guidance to help schools, agencies and staff identify the right support available for each individual, available at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-school-closures/guidance-for-schools-about-temporarily-closing#what-should-schools-do-if-they-have-already-ended-contracts-with-contingent-workers-that-they-directly-employ" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-school-closures/guidance-for-schools-about-temporarily-closing#what-should-schools-do-if-they-have-already-ended-contracts-with-contingent-workers-that-they-directly-employ</a>. This will depend on supply teachers’ individual circumstances and, for some, may include access to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#agency-workers-including-those-employed-by-umbrella-companies" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#agency-workers-including-those-employed-by-umbrella-companies</a>.</p><p>On 12 May, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme would continue until the end of October. This means that any supply teachers who have been furloughed by their employment agency will continue to receive 80% of their salary.</p><p>Schools will continue to receive their budgets, which ensures that they are able to continue to pay for staff that they employ directly and meet their other regular financial commitments, including paying their suppliers, such as employment agencies, as per Cabinet Office guidance, available at this link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0220-supplier-relief-due-to-covid-19" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0220-supplier-relief-due-to-covid-19</a>.</p><p>These are rapidly developing circumstances. We will continue to keep the situation under review and to keep Parliament updated accordingly.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 18/05/2020 16:26:36 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

1195513

registered interest
date	13/05/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Supply Teachers: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
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 supply teachers working for umbrella companies are furloughed at 80 per cent of their average wage during the covid-19 oubreak.
tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
uin	46638
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.</p><p> </p><p>The duration of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#agency-workers-including-those-employed-by-umbrella-companies" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#agency-workers-including-those-employed-by-umbrella-companies</a> - has been extended this week by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, providing financial reassurance to many people in these unprecedented times.</p><p>The scheme is not sector-specific and its terms and conditions must be met by all employers, including umbrella companies.</p><p>Employers can claim for any regular payments they are obliged to pay their employees. This includes wages, past overtime, fees and compulsory commission payments. However, discretionary bonus (including tips) and commission payments and non-cash payments should be excluded.</p><p> </p><p>Full guidance on how to calculate 80% of employee’s wages can be found at: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/guidance/work-out-80-of-your-employees-wages-to-claim-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/guidance/work-out-80-of-your-employees-wages-to-claim-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 18/05/2020 16:26:00 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

1195613

registered interest
date	13/05/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Education: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate the Government has made of the number of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils who are unable to access their school online classroom due to school closures during the covid-19 outbreak as they do not have digital devices or internet access at home by each (i) region and (ii) nation of the UK.
tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
uin	46667
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government has committed over £100 million to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in England to access remote education. We are providing laptops and tablets to disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examination in Year 10, receiving support from a social worker or are a care leaver. We are also providing 4G routers to care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and disadvantaged Year 10 pupils who do not have sufficient internet connections.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has ordered over 200,000 laptops and tablets and allocated devices based on its estimates of the number of eligible children that do not have access to a device.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 18/05/2020 16:49:54 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra

1195614

registered interest
date	13/05/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether parents who are concerned that their children returning to school in May, June or July will be at risk from covid-19 and associated conditions will be able to keep them at home and away from school at least until the commencement of the September term.
tabling member constituency	Hayes and Harlington
tabling member printed	John McDonnell
uin	46521
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2020 answer text <p>From the week commencing 1 June, at the earliest, we will be asking primary schools to welcome back children in nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside priority groups (vulnerable children and children of critical workers). We will only do this provided that the five key tests set by government justify the changes at the time.</p><p>By returning pupils gradually, settings can initially reduce the number of children and young people in classrooms compared to usual and put protective measures in place to reduce risks.</p><p>Eligible children – including priority groups - are strongly encouraged to attend their education setting, unless they are self-isolating or they are clinically vulnerable. Parents will not be fined for non-attendance at this time and schools will not be held to account for attendance levels.</p><p>Further guidance for parents and carers can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 46558 question first answered 22/05/2020 12:43:34 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	178 label Biography information for John McDonnell

1195651

registered interest
date	13/05/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the guidance published by the Government on 10 May 2020 entitled Our plan to rebuild, if he will publish the risk analysis that identified which children should return to school from 1 June 2020.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	46730
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) established the Children’s Task and Finish Working Group to provide consolidated scientific health advice to government. This advice has been used, alongside other sources of information, to inform decision making on the wider opening of schools.</p><p> </p><p>An initial overview of scientific advice and information is available here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overview-of-scientific-information-on-coronavirus-covid-19" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overview-of-scientific-information-on-coronavirus-covid-19</a></p><p> </p><p>The papers from SAGE meetings are being published in tranches. The first batch was released on 20th March 2020 and a second on 5<sup>th</sup> May 2020. Further batches will be released regularly.</p><p> </p><p>The list of papers to be released to date is available by following the link below, including a number of schools-related papers. This list will be updated to reflect papers considered at future meetings:</p><p><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fgroups%2Fscientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies-sage-coronavirus-covid-19-response&amp;data=02%7C01%7CSAGE%40go-science.gov.uk%7Cd1f4af8459464b327e1a08d7f8c2e560%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637251388256547613&amp;sdata=NVvv4PAJk4IsPFL4kvDLpX%2F0ZkbFhizfZrsAxo2RwOw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies-sage-coronavirus-covid-19-response</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 18/05/2020 16:38:37 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1195662

registered interest
date	13/05/2020
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, if he will produce an equality impact assessment of his policy to reopen schools.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	46734
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2020 answer text <p>When making decisions about asking school leaders to prepare to welcome back more children to schools, we have had due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and to advance equality of opportunities and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not as required by section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.</p><p> </p><p>We are keeping our assessment of those matters under review in the lead up to 1 June.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 22/05/2020 13:16:52 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1195696

registered interest
date	13/05/2020
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 his Department is taking to ensure that transport for children to travel to school during the covid-19 outbreak is safe.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	46742
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2020 answer text <p>Parents and children should consider walking and cycling to school where possible or driving if necessary. They should avoid the use of public transport where possible. The Department for Transport has published guidance on safer travel for the public. Parents and children may wish to refer to the guidance when planning their journeys, and to help them minimise risk where the use of public transport is unavoidable. The guidance is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers</a>.</p><p>Some children have their home to school transport arranged by their local authority or school. Local authorities and schools should put in place arrangements which fit local circumstances and minimise the risk of transmission, as far as is possible. This should include ensuring transport providers follow hygiene rules. They may wish to refer to the Department for Transport’s guidance for transport operators, which is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operators" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operators</a>.</p><p>The phased wider opening of schools will limit the number of children travelling on home to school transport in the initial phase. Where transport capacity allows, local authorities could consider substituting smaller vehicles with larger ones, or running 2 vehicles rather than one, to reduce the number of passengers per vehicle and help passengers keep their distance.</p><p>We are in contact with local authorities to help resolve issues as they arise.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 22/05/2020 13:20:09 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell