Ulster Unionist peer Lord Rogan has sought urgent clarification from the UK Government on how much of a £1 billion fund to help children “catch up” with lost learning because of the coronavirus pandemic will be allocated to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Last week it was announced that £650 million is to be shared across primary and secondary schools to help children from all backgrounds who have missed out on teaching time.
An additional £350 million will enable primary and secondary schools to access “heavily subsidised tuition” from an approved list of organisations.
Lord Rogan of Lower Iveagh
Speaking during a virtual sitting of the House of Lords on Tuesday, Lord Rogan said there was “widespread acceptance that coping with the adverse impacts of the lockdown on children’s mental health will be a particular challenge when all pupils across United Kingdom return to school later this year.”
He continued: “This will include a need to ensure that each child’s resilience levels are sufficiently strong to enable them to learn effectively.”
Lord Rogan asked Education Minister Baroness Berridge: “What discussions are taking place on a four-nation basis to ensure that teachers can use their professional judgment in delivering the curriculum without pushing these vulnerable pupils too hard and too fast?”
Responding, the Minister said there were “regular meetings across the four nations, both at ministerial and official level.”
And she added: “£650 million will be given to schools because we know that schools know their students best.”
Lord Rogan has now written to Baroness Berridge seeking details on where this money will go.
He wrote: “There is an expectation that some of this funding allocation may be distributed through the Barnett formula but, as I am sure you understand, headteachers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales require more than hearsay as they plan for the full return of pupils.
“I therefore request urgent clarification from you on how much of this additional funding will be diverted to the devolved administrations, broken down by nation, and when they can expect to receive it.”
Lord Rogan has said he will publish the reply as soon as he receives it.