Labour unveils post-Covid education agenda

Labour has published a new education plan for the immediate post-Covid period, which proposes a dynamic shift of focus across education settings, presenting a programme for all children to ‘play, learn and develop’.

The Children’s Recovery Plan would give all schools the right resources to deliver a new range of activities and support – from sports to drama or music – to fuel post lockdown recovery whilst starting to address attainment gaps between the poorest and most privileged children.

Labour’s plan would deliver breakfast clubs and new activities for every child such as sport, drama, book clubs and debating societies. It would be a fully funded expanded range of extracurricular clubs and activities to boost time for children to play and socialise after months away from their friends.
    
The plan would 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.

It would offer small group tutoring for all who need it, and the continued development for teachers.

Labour also proposes an Education Recovery Premium to 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. It would also double the Pupil Premium for children in key transition years, delivering additional support for children who need it most.

It would also extend free school meals over the holidays, including the summer break.

Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, said: “Labour’s innovative plans, informed by parents, teachers and children, will deliver not just a world-class education for all based on play and social development, but fulfilled and confident young people.”

“We must match the ambition children have for their own futures and put them at the heart of our national recovery. This is an investment that our children’s futures and the future of our country depends on.”