MP praises school teachers in Bognor and Littlehampton for ‘going the extra mile’

Schools remain closed until further notice for all but the children of critical workers and vulnerable children.

However, Mr Gibb praised teachers going the extra mile to ensure students are remaining engaged with learning.

He said: “Monday marked the end of the Easter holiday period and the start of the summer term for schools.

“It’s clear from my phone calls to a number of head teachers in the constituency that, while the challenges schools face are immense, teachers are going the extra mile to ensure their pupils remain engaged in their education.

“I want to thank all those teachers and support staff who work in our schools in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, for their magnificent response to this crisis.

“Teachers providing work for their pupils and video lessons. Teachers are phoning families at home to see how their pupils are getting on. Staff continuing to look after children of critical workers and vulnerable children who are attending school.”

Mr Gibb said he is pleased to see ‘nationally and locally’ that schools are using the free online resources recommended by the Department for Education, such as the Oak National Academy where there are ‘180 video lessons created by teachers for teachers’.

He added: “The Department for Education will provide laptops and tablets for disadvantaged teenagers without such equipment who are taking exams next year.

“The rollout of the national voucher system will mean children eligible for free school meals will continue to receive the same support as they normally would have in school.

“And headteachers will be able to focus fully on supporting their staff because Ofsted will not be carrying out routine inspections of schools and colleges.”

The MP stressed that students studying for their GCSEs and A-levels ‘will still gain the qualifications that they need’ in August.

“The wellbeing of school staff, children and parents is the absolute priority, and schools will reopen at the right time when the scientific evidence says that it is safe to do so,” he said.

“I am committed to ensuring we minimise the impact of the pandemic on our young people’s education and their future prospects.”

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