Labour is calling for schools in Mansfield to receive an additional £17m to help children recover from two dreadful Covid affected years. The additional money would include:

• £8.64m for primary and early years schools
• £6.33m for secondary schools

Under Labour’s plan, the schools would receive additional funding for:

Breakfast clubs and new activities for every child: boost time for children to play and socialise after months away from their friends by enabling schools to offer an expanded range of extracurricular activities, from breakfast clubs to sport and drama, book clubs and debating societies;

Quality mental health support in every school: give every child the support they need to transition back to school and manage personal challenges, with access to qualified in-school counselling staff alongside boosting wellbeing through extra activities;

Small group tutoring for all who need it: make small group teaching available to all children who need it not just 2%, by reforming the Government’s failing tutoring programme to no child falls behind because of pandemic disruption;

Continued development for teachers: Teachers and school staff have had one of the toughest years of their careers – it is only by supporting them with training to stay on top of the latest knowledge and techniques that we can give every child a brilliant classroom experience;

Invest in an Education Recovery Premium: support every child to reach their potential by investing in children who have faced the greatest disruption during the pandemic from early years to further education, and double the Pupil Premium for children in key transition years, delivering additional support for children who need it most;

Ensure no child goes hungry: ensure no child goes hungry during the pandemic by extending free school meals over the holidays, including the summer holiday. The proposals are in line with the recommendations made by the Government’s own Covid recovery adviser Kevan Collins, rejected by the Conservatives in favour of a scheme which has seen just 2% of children offered catch-up tutoring.

The proposals are in line with the recommendations made by the Government’s own Covid recovery adviser Kevan Collins, rejected by the Conservatives in favour of a scheme which has seen just 2% of children offered catch-up tutoring.

Andy Abrahams, former teacher and leader of Mansfield Labour Group said:

“Children in Mansfield need all the support they can get their education back on track after two dreadful years of chaos and disruption. Labour is calling for schools in Mansfield to receive £17m in additional funding to provide everything from breakfast clubs and mental health support to catch up tutoring and free school meals for those most in need.

“Labour has a serious plan to help children in Mansfield catch up – this government isn’t serious about anything.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

Labour’s full Children’s Recovery Plan can be found here

Kevan Collins, the Government’s recovery advisor resigned after his recommendations were rejected by government. His plan was in line with Labour’s recommendations, instead minister provided juts a tenth of the support requested

Just 2% of children have received catch up tutoring

The local impact of Labour’s Children’s Recovery spreadsheet