Labour has accused the Conservatives of showing a “Staggering lack of ambition” for children’s futures as analysis shows just one in 14 pupils across the North West are set to benefit from the Government’s summer schools. This means that despite government promises to support every child, over one million children will miss out on the summer schools provision across the North West.
The pitiful reach of these summer programmes comes on top of previous Labour analysis which revealed 78,000 year 11 pupils in the region are leaving school this summer without receiving any support to recover lost learning or wellbeing.
The Conservatives have committed a mere 10% of the funding their own expert education adviser said was needed to help children bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic, with no specific support to boost children’s wellbeing or mental health despite parent’s reporting this is their top concern in the wake of pandemic isolation.
Throughout the pandemic Labour has warned that children have been treated as an afterthought, but this analysis shows the extent of the Conservatives’ failure to invest in supporting every child post-pandemic to recover lost learning and social development.
In contrast, Labour’s Plan, which builds on the understanding that children make academic progress when they are happy and well-supported, would give all schools the right resources to deliver a new range of activities – from sports and drama to music or book clubs – alongside targeted academic catch-up and small group tutoring for all who need it. This reflects the priorities of parents who have highlighted that their children’s social development and wellbeing is their top priority in the post-pandemic recovery.
Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, said:
“The Conservatives are showing a staggering lack of ambition for our children’s futures.
“More children are leaving school without any catch-up support than will attend a summer school this year, providing yet more evidence of the Conservatives’ failure to deliver on their promises on children’s recovery.
“Labour has set out a bold plan to invest in our children’s futures to compensate for the Conservatives’ failures over the last year, and ensure all children can play, learn and develop post-pandemic. It’s time for the Conservatives to get behind Labour’s plan and match our ambition for children’s futures“
