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Schools minister Nick Gibb is giving evidence to @CommonsEd on schools reopening.
He says choice of primary kids first is because "we're very much led by the science.
"Susceptibility to clinical disease is less for younger children than adults or older children."
He says choice of primary kids first is because "we're very much led by the science.
"Susceptibility to clinical disease is less for younger children than adults or older children."
Govt has rejected the SAGE models which suggested they go in for 2 weeks on/2 weeks off, or even week on/week off.
Gibb says important to have continuity in education and doesn't help their parents return to work.
Gibb says important to have continuity in education and doesn't help their parents return to work.
2019 Tory MP (and former teacher) Jonathan Gullis asks how teachers and parents can "regain confidence in the Government's messaging" after Dominic Cummings' actions mean "the message has been undermined...even if the law hasn't been broken, the spirit of the law has been broken"
Labour MP Ian Mearns asks why schools in the NE (approx 500 cases per 100,000) are reopening at same time as those in Devon and Cornwall where incidence of #Covid19 is about a fifth of that.
Gibb says SAGE only recognise a national R rate, not regional ones.
Gibb says SAGE only recognise a national R rate, not regional ones.
Mearns says survey of parents in Gateshead found over 70pc were uncertain about sending children back to school next week, because of local conditions.
Gibb says: "There's a lot of anxiety, all of us are anxious about this virus" - hence cautious, phased approach.
Gibb says: "There's a lot of anxiety, all of us are anxious about this virus" - hence cautious, phased approach.
Schools minister Nick Gibb says government can't confirm until TOMORROW whether reception, year 1 and year 6 will return next week as depends on the scientific evidence being published.
(And yet Boris Johnson basically announced it on Saturday)
(And yet Boris Johnson basically announced it on Saturday)
Gibb clearly indicates that most pupils should prepare to be off til September.
He says will be led by the science but: "Remote education, home education will continue for the majority of pupils and young people probably until the end of the summer term."
He says will be led by the science but: "Remote education, home education will continue for the majority of pupils and young people probably until the end of the summer term."
Gibb says DfE have not modelled the effects on what will happen to disadvantaged pupils.
Says focus has not been "poring over statistics but improving education at home".
@halfon4harlowMP cites survey of 900 heads showing 700k state school pupils not given work to do at home.
Says focus has not been "poring over statistics but improving education at home".
@halfon4harlowMP cites survey of 900 heads showing 700k state school pupils not given work to do at home.
On how the most disadvantaged children will be helped to catch up, Gibb says DfE doing a lot of work on this with charities, and considering "summer camps".
Gibb confirms 40% of vulnerable children who should have been at school throughout lockdown (in care etc) are not attending.
But says schools are doing a huge amount of work to contact them.
But says schools are doing a huge amount of work to contact them.
