SCHOOL'S STILL OUT
Boris Johnson warns it’s ‘too early to tell’ if schools can reopen after February half-term
BORIS Johnson has warned it is "too early to tell" if schools can reopen after the February half-term.
The PM said there are hopeful signs the lockdown is pushing the number of new coronavirus cases down, but kids could still have to learn from home.
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In a tough grilling by MPs in the Liaison Committee, the PM said reopening schools depended on how many people had been vaccined.
And he said the new strains of coronavirus found in South Africa and Brazil could impact the efficacy of the vaccine.
When asked if schools would reopen next month, Mr Johnson said: "The priority is obviously to get schools open as soon as possible, whether we can do that after the half term depends on a number of things: the success of the vaccination process, depends on us not finding out the SA or Brazil variants are vaccine resistant.
";We have no evidence that they are, but that’s got to go well.
"But the crucial thing is the lockdown measures have to go well.
"What we are seeing today is some early signs of progress in containing the virus, but it's far, far too early to say if we can see any relaxation in February."
Earlier today, The Education Secretary also admitted there could still be hotspot areas where schools will have to stay shut.
Speaking at the Education Select Committee, the Education Secretary said "contingency plans" were in place for schools in hotspots to stay closed after February half-term - hours after he revealed some kids could still face mini exams, after their GCSEs and A-levels were cancelled, and
Chair of the Committee, Robert Halfon demanded Mr Williamson give a guarantee that nursery schools would stay open - even if lockdown is made stricter.
Mr Halfon asked Mr Williamson: "You've kept nurseries open? Will they be staying open?"
But the Education Secretary dodged the question, saying he "wants to see all education settings open all the time."
He added: "The transmissibility (of coronavirus) among those who are the most youngest is the very lowest, and when you're in a position to keep part of the education sector open for the youngest years, I believe it was the right decision to make."
Mr Halfon asked once more: "Are you keeping them open? Guaranteed?"
And once again, Mr Williamson refused to rule it out, saying the current advice was to keep early years setting open.
"There's no intention to close, and we've not received any advice contrary to that."
'CONTINGENCY PLANS' TO KEEP SCHOOLS CLOSED
The Education Secretary also admitted emergency "contingency plans" could be activated to keep schools in hotspot areas closed.
Mr Halfon said he hoped the plan to reopen schools after February half-term was "signed in blood".
But Mr Williamson laid the groundwork for further school closures, saying: "The contingency framework would be there to continue if there are areas of particular need where school settings continue to remain closed."
A host of schools in Tier 4 London and the South East of England areas were told they would need to close under the "contingency plans" before the national lockdown was brought in.
But as the number of new coronavirus cases hit spiralled out of control last week, Mr Williamson was forced to tell schools across the country they would need to shut their doors once again.
Boris Johnson told MPs there could still be some exams to decide kids' grades - and vowed to do "everything we can to make sure that exams are fair".
He said: "The Department for Education is launching a consultation with Ofqual (the exams watchdog) to ensure that we get the right arrangements for this year."
In a letter to Ofqual this morning, Mr Williamson said "a breadth of evidence should inform teachers’ judgements" - including tests.
He added: "I would like to explore the possibility of providing externally set tasks or papers, in order that teachers can draw on this resource to support their assessments of students.
"We should seek views in the consultation on what broader evidence should determine a teacher’s assessment of a student’s grade and whether we should require or recommend the use of the externally set tasks or papers."
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It came as:
- Ministers have warned more restrictions could be on the way in days if people don't abide by lockdown rules
- Matt Hancock admitted that some GPs were having to slow down their vaccinations as they had done all their over 80s already
- And he admitted hotels were being considered for treating some hospital patients as space runs out across the NHS
- It was revealed there will be a 24/7 trial of vaccine delivery in certain areas - likely to be just for NHS staff
- Asda will be the first supermarket to offer jabs in store
- Biometrics firm iProov and cybersecurity firm Mvine, will issue vaccine certificates to prove digitally they've had the jab
The grilling comes after frantic parents shared pictures of potatoes and cans of beans, a loaf of bread and a block of cheese or boxes of cold chips after expecting food that could provide their children's lunches for a week.
Those eligible for free school meals are entitled to £30 food vouchers but at the moment many parents across the country are being given food parcels instead from their local authority through suppliers.
Boris Johnson slammed the food boxes which were sent out, saying: "I don't think anybody is happy with the disgraceful images that we've seen the food parcels that have been offered, they are appalling and they are an insult to families.
"I'm grateful by the way to Marcus Rashford has highlighted the issue and is doing quite an effective job by comparison with (Sir Keir Starmer) in holding the Government to account for these issues."
The Department for Education has since announced the £30 vouchers would be made available again from Monday.
Footballer and fierce campaigner for free school meals Marcus Rashford spoke with the PM today, who vowed to "correct" the "unacceptable" food hampers being sent out.
Mr Halfon demanded Mr Williamson "name and shame" companies who hand out "parsimonious food parcels".
And Mr Williamson blasted the company responsible for the meagre meal boxes, Chartwells, saying he was "disgusted" by the pictures of the food sent to families.
He told MPs: "When I saw that picture I was absolutely disgusted. As a father myself, I just thought how a family in receipt of that can really be expected to deliver five nutritious meals.
"It's been made absolutely clear to Chartwells, to the whole sector, that that sort of behaviour is just not right, it will not be tolerated."
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After being pressed on whether or not teachers would be bumped up in the queue to get a vaccine, Mr Williamson said allowing them to have the jab was his "top priority".
"My priority is to see teachers and support staff be in the place to get the vaccine at the very earliest moment," he said.
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Gavin Williamson blasted 'unacceptable' free school meal packages and vows to name and shame companies who hand them out
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