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Why school is the best place for children as lockdown eases

By: KentOnline reporter multimediadesk@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 07:03, 08 March 2021

Updated: 07:04, 08 March 2021

Sponsored Editorial: Produced in association with the UK Government

As part of the UK Government’s first step out of lockdown, schools are welcoming back all pupils this week.

Children benefit from mixing in the classroom and the playground

Children’s learning, well-being, sense of routine and social interaction is best served by them all returning to school.

Getting pupils back into classrooms has always been a priority for the UK Government and, alongside existing protective measures, the robust, regular, rapid testing programme helps to protect the school community and families.

Protective measures include...

Rapid Covid-19 tests will be the key to protecting children and their families when they return to education on Monday.

THE SCHOOLS TESTING PLAN

Kate Jefferson

'SCHOOL IS WHERE KIDS NEED TO BE TO SOCIALISE'

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“School is where kids need to be,” says a London academy headteacher.

“It’s where they see their friends and socialise. Those social skills are at the cornerstone of our modern world,” confirms Millbank Academy head Kate Jefferson, set to welcome back 300 three to 11-year-olds.

Staggered break times, ventilated classrooms, extra cleaning staff and no group gatherings have already been available to key workers’ children.

“When parents collected their children there was a real buzz with people being very excited about their friends coming back to join them. Everyone wants this transition to be as safe and positive as possible.”

The Government has provided £700 million in new funding on top of £1 billion for an education and recovery package to help youngsters catch up on lost learning

CATCHING UP ON LEARNING

The UK Government has introduced...

• A new £700 million education and recovery package to help young people in England catch up on lost learning due to the pandemic.

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• An existing £1 billion Covid catch-up package to tackle the impact of lost teaching time, including a £650 million catch up premium for schools to support all pupils and a £350 million National Tutoring Programme for children that need it most.

• An £8 million wellbeing programme that has funded local expert support, training and resources for education staff to understand and respond to emotional and mental health pressures some children and young people may be facing.

Gerard Garvey

'WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM BACK IN CLASS'

“Having young people back in the classroom is the right thing to do,” confirms Newcastle Sixth Form College’s principal.

“The news is exactly what we’ve been hoping for,” says Gerard Garvey. “We’re really excited and eagerly planning their return.”

With his 100-strong staff, Gerard is preparing for all 1,250 students to return to the city centre campus.

“All our learners are going to be over the moon to be back in college,” he continued.

“The huge benefits of having them back here with us will make all the protective measures we have to set in place completely and utterly worth it.”

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