Government must provide practical and financial support ahead of schools opening fully

Responding to comments from the Prime Minister that reopening schools fully is a "national priority", Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said:

"Months of remote learning has seen too many pupils left behind. It is absolutely right to prioritise getting children back to school.

To do so, school leaders, teachers, parents and pupils need to have real confidence that schools will be COVID-safe come September. A comprehensive test, trace and isolate system is critical to reopening classrooms as safely as possible. Ministers need to work with local authorities to improve the NHS Test and Trace service, which is still failing to reach enough close contacts.

The Government must also use these last vital weeks to ensure school leaders have the practical and financial support they need ahead of opening fully. We want to see radical steps to support education providers, from opening up community spaces to schools, to a Teach for Britain campaign to bring in new staff."