24Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Evidence for reopening schools must be published amidst fears of Covid-19 spike

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to publish the scientific advice underpinning the decision to reopen schools following reports the move could increase the rate of Covid-19 infections. Calculations for Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) show that if schools are fully reopened, a “surprisingly small” chain of infection could quickly carry the virus across the country. Sources close to SAGE also told The Times that scientists are uncertain schools will be able to reopen to all pupils in September without closing down other parts of the economy again. 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. These reports are exactly why parents and…
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22Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Challenge is for Government, not teachers

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the Prime Minister has announced he wants all pupils’ back to school every day and all day from September, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “We all want to be able to have pupils back at school and learning in the best environment possible. However, we cannot safely do that without a national plan for reopening schools or without having a comprehensive test, trace, and isolate system fully up and running. “The Prime Minister should wake up and fully grasp the issue. The challenge is not for teachers, it’s for the Government to explain how and when this can be achieved. “Sadly, Boris Johnson is once again setting ambitious goals without having made a plan or reaching out to the people who actually have to…
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18Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Govt must guarantee schools’ funding boost isn’t at expense of anything else

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that the Government has announced plans, including a tutoring scheme, to help pupils catch up on lost learning as a result of school closures during the COVID-19 crisis, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said: “These initiatives need to form part of a wider national plan agreed with teachers, experts, unions and others. The plan must be flexible and work for school leaders’ circumstances on the ground. Top-down initiatives with funding tied to them won’t make a big enough difference if schools are unable to fully reopen safely. “Ministers must also guarantee that this is additional funding, and will not come at the expense of money for anything else. I very much hope the tutoring scheme will draw on the abilities and experience of existing supply teachers and recently retired teachers. They can deliver top…
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16Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Wrongheaded to reject spare spaces for schools, Lib Dems warn

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's new guidance for schools, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said: “The real test of this guidance is whether it will build the confidence needed for parents, teachers and pupils to go back to school without fear of putting their health at risk. “For schools that don’t have the capacity to have more pupils return within existing guidelines, the Government must do more. That includes providing laptops and internet access to all disadvantaged children in need. “It is also wrongheaded to reject Liberal Democrat proposals to use suitable empty buildings in the community as learning spaces. Ministers should think again.”
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16Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government spending £120m on Festival for Brexit instead of free school meals over the summer

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have accused the Government of being "callous and heartless" for spending £120m on a Festival For Brexit, when the same amount of money could be spent on extending free school meals over the summer. Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson, Layla Moran, made the intervention ahead of an opposition debate today on calls to extend free school meals during the coronavirus outbreak. The Government recently confirmed that the Festival for Brexit will be going ahead in 2022, with £120 million of taxpayers' money earmarked for the event. This is the exact same amount it would cost to extend free school meals to all eligible pupils over the six-week summer holiday. Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Leaving children hungry while ploughing millions into Brexit propaganda is callous and…
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12Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems set out Five Point Plan to help pupils back to school

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have put forward a plan to “work in unity” at a local and national level to consider ways to safely open schools more widely in England and support disadvantaged pupils in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Presenting the Party’s Five Point Plan in a letter to the PM and Education Secretary, Layla Moran urged the Government to bring together council leaders, teachers, unions, experts and opposition politicians to agree a national plan for the safe, phased opening of schools more widely in England. The plans put forward by the Liberal Democrats offer possible ways to get more pupils back in classrooms safely including: Safe space registers enabling schools to use local buildings for social distancingRecruiting additional staff through a Teach for Britain campaignEnd the learning void by working…
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11Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems lead cross party push for more diverse curriculum

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have secured cross party support for a bid to review the national curriculum in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests to combat “institutional racism in the UK”.  In a letter to the Education Secretary coordinated by Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran, MPs from across the political spectrum call for the inclusion of "a more diverse range of historical perspectives in our curriculum". The cross-party group request a review of the curriculum is undertaken by leading historians and advocates from BAME backgrounds. The MPs from all major opposition parties also call for teachers to have access to "the support and training necessary to translate it into learning in the classroom", to ensure "real progress" in schools. Layla Moran, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson said:  “The Black Lives Matter protests in…
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01Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Liberal Democrats send strong message on education to the Government

Borough news, Campaigns
The Oldham Liberal Democrats and Councillor Howard Sykes (Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Opposition Leader on Oldham Council) have all signed a letter of support to aid vulnerable children and protect local education.  The National Education Union (NEU) Councillors Network wrote the letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson for local councillors to sign up to.  Schools have been underfunded and struggling and the Covid-19 world has increased that mounting pressure.  The signed letter has several key demands:  Assurance that families will be eligible for free school meals (FSM) will be given food vouchers during summer holidays.Government to work with local authorities to protect vulnerable children.Supporting calls from the teaching profession that schools be reopened when it is safe to do so, for both staff and students.Local authorities be given…
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01Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government decision to press on with reopening schools “deeply worrying”

Parliamentary news
Ahead of some schools reopening to more pupils on Monday 1 June, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Ministers have repeatedly claimed to be guided by science through this crisis, yet a number of scientists - including members of SAGE - have expressed concern about the easing of lockdown. It's deeply worrying that plans to reopen schools are going ahead despite the fact that the COVID-19 risk is still classified as "high".  “We all want to see children back in schools as an urgent priority. But not if this risks a new COVID-19 spike. The Government must guarantee that public health will not be put at risk as a result of a premature or rushed effort to get children back into classrooms.  “The Government must also find find practical solutions to the logistical problems created by the…
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17May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must step up provision for vulnerable children

Parliamentary news
The IFS have today published a report revealing that children from better-off households are spending 30% more time each day on educational activities than are children from the poorest fifth of households. Responding to the widening disadvantage gap between children during the coronavirus crisis, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “The Liberal Democrats have been clear that we cannot fix the disadvantage gap without also addressing the looming crisis amongst our vulnerable children. The Government must set up an emergency taskforce to coordinate its response, and for out-of-work supply teachers and recently retired teachers to be recruited to help identify and help the kids most in need. “Too many children still do not have access to the internet and their own devices, and there is huge variation in practice. To halt an ever growing…
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