07Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Govt must act to strengthen NHS Test and Trace ahead of new school year

Govt must act to strengthen NHS Test and Trace ahead of new school year

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that scientists have warned that current testing and contact tracing is inadequate to prevent a second wave of coronavirus when schools in the UK reopen, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said:  “After months being cooped up at home, millions of children are looking forward to getting back to school in September, but safety must remain the top priority. "In the absence of a vaccine, a comprehensive test, trace and isolate system is the only way to keep people safe as we reopen schools. The Government must do everything in its power to strengthen that system if we are to have any hope of a safe start to the new school year.  "Equally, the Government need to be honest about the very real risk that, if they…
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07Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Blocking pupil grade appeals could deny opportunities “for years to come”

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that schools, but not individual pupils, will be able to challenge the GCSE and A Level grades awarded, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “This completely fails to get to grips with the issue. If individual pupils are not able to challenge grades which are an unfair reflection of their ability, it could seriously impact their education and employment opportunities for years to come. "It is absolutely unacceptable for any student to be unfairly penalised because of their family’s income or any other factor. "The Secretary of State needs to urgently put in place resources to ensure every child has the chance to appeal their grades and resit assessments when it is safe to do so.”
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30Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems call for review into school exclusions

Parliamentary news
Responding to new figures for permanent and fixed-period school exclusions in England for 2018/19, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said: “These figures make appalling reading. Every year thousands of children - often the most vulnerable - are being written off by our education system. Children eligible for free school meals are more than four times as likely to be permanently excluded - that says it all. "This Government should be ashamed that they have presided over continually high rates of permanent exclusion. Cutbacks to school budgets undoubtedly play a part in this. So too does the culture which prizes exam results and league table rankings over care and support.  "We need see action to address the disproportionate number of exclusions among pupils on free school meals, as well as Black…
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29Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must act now on National Food Strategy recommendations

Parliamentary news
Responding to the National Food Strategy review suggesting that free school meals should be extended to every household receiving Universal Credit, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said:  “The Government must waste no time in acting on these recommendations. We know that giving school children a hot, healthy meal at lunchtime greatly improves their health, behaviour and results.  “The Liberal Democrats are proud to have introduced free school meals in government and have long been calling for them to be extended to more pupils. “We need to invest in giving every child the best start in life as we come out of this crisis."
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20Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government’s school funding plan shows no understanding of challenges facing schools

Parliamentary news
Responding to the publication of the Government’s funding allocations for schools in 2021-22, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “The Conservatives’ spending plans show no understanding of the challenges facing schools in September. They have asked schools to open as normal when our Test and Trace system is faulty. Teachers must try to reverse the harm to children’s learning, development and mental health, when many disadvantaged children have disappeared off schools’ radars entirely during lockdown. “In the face of this crisis, spending plans announced last year are utterly unfit for purpose. All the Government has added is a catch-up premium worth just £80 per pupil per year, and a tutoring fund. It’s simply not enough to pay for the small group teaching that Ministers say our children need. “The…
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13Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems: Higher education announcement lacks substance

Parliamentary news
Responding to the higher technical education measures announced by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Ministers have extolled Further Education for years, yet chosen to make deep cuts. This announcement risk being no different - strong on rhetoric but low on substance. "Introducing new qualifications will be no use without the funding to back it up. We need to see unprecedented investment in skills for young people coming out of this crisis so that no-one is left behind"
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12Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Children of parents who lose jobs over summer risk losing free school meals

Parliamentary news
Children of parents who lose their jobs over the coming weeks risk missing out on free school meals over the summer because of a loophole in the scheme, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran has warned. It comes following a wave of job losses this week, with John Lewis and Boots alone cutting 5,300 jobs. The current government guidelines say you must apply for a voucher for the Covid Summer Food Fund one week before school ends. For the majority of schools that close on 20 July, this means you must apply by Monday 13 July. Only children who qualify for school meals before the end of the term are eligible for support from the fund. Layla Moran has written to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson warning the rule could mean…
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02Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government woefully underprepared to ensure every young person can return to school

Parliamentary news
Speaking following the statement on schools reopening, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Today's statement shows just how woefully underprepared the Government are to ensure every young person can return to school in September. “Despite the very real risk of further local outbreaks of Covid 19, the Education Secretary refused to give any commitment that children will get the equipment they need to learn from home. Without them, too many will have no chance of catching up on their education and will continue to fall behind. “Every day disadvantaged children go without the laptops they need is another day the digital divide gets worse. This is a complete dereliction of duty by the Education Secretary and he must take immediate steps to address it.”
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02Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Guidance for schools raises more questions than they answer

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports the Government’s guidance for schools reopening will include an overhaul of the curriculum, impose strict behaviour regimes and include a continuation of remote learning, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “A raft of guidance is again released, but it is meaningless unless it is accompanied by robust scientific evidence to reassure the public that these plans won’t result in an increased risk of Covid-19 spreading.  “The practicality of the plans also raise concerns. Dropping entire subjects and a continuation of remote learning without much needed equipment is far from an indication that this Government is giving pupils the best start in life. “With the start and end of a school day moving to avoid rush hour, the Government will need to explain what working parents can…
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26Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Irresponsible for Government to change social distancing at schools

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that social distancing rules will be relaxed as part of plans to get all pupils back to school in September, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “We all want to be able to have pupils back at school in order to give them the education they need, but not until it is made safe. "However, it is irresponsible for the Government to announce a change of tact on social distancing when they don't know what the R rate will be in September.  “Ministers must give reassurances that they will not rush through a decision which could see weaker safety measures in schools than in any other public spaces.  “If the Government want people to have confidence that this is the right decision, they must publish the…
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