Government plans summer camps for kids so working parents can have a break before schools reopen in September
THE GOVERNMENT is forming plans to offer camps for school children so their working parents can have a break over the summer.
Instead of focusing on reading, writing and maths, the summer camps are expected to offer arts, sports activities and support on wellbeing.
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Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is due to announce the summer camp plans next week, as well as provide an update on how schools will reopen in September.
Boris Johnson had told Brits that a big "catch up" will take place in Autumn, starting with a national tutoring programme for the most disadvantaged children.
But Paul Whiteman, the General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers criticised the Government's policy plans saying the summer catch up was the latest in a "long line of eye-catching announcements that will suffer from a lack of input from the profession".
He said: "As with the announcement that all children would return to primary school before the summer, the government has rushed to announce headline grabbing policies without properly engaging with the profession first."
The Oasis Trust already has plans in place for a summer school at one of the Park Plaza's hotels in Waterloo, central London.
Rev Steve Chalke, who founded the academy trust told the he also plans to launch a campaign for retired teachers to "step forward to help us over the summer, to rally the troops".
The aim of the Government summer school camp initiative is to assist kids who teachers feel have lost out by not attending class since late March due to the coronavirus outbreak.
It would be the first time since World War Two that pupils will have gone to school in the summer break.
During a Downing Street press conference on May 16, Mr Williamson said: “We’re looking at different initiatives that we could maybe look at rolling out during the summer period.”
Speaking about the phased reopening of schools a Department for Education spokesperson said: “We will do whatever we can to make sure no child, whatever their background, falls behind as a result of coronavirus.
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“The Government has already committed over £100 million to support children to learn at home, and pupil premium funding at the highest ever rate per pupil continues to be paid to help schools support their disadvantaged pupils.
“Many schools have begun welcoming children from Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 back to the classroom as part of a phased and cautious approach. We are also considering, with a range of partner organisations, what more is required to support all pupils who have been affected by school closures.”
Mr Williamson is expected to provide further guidance on primary schools next week.
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