Commenting as the Department for Education today (Thurs 26 August) reissues its ‘remote education direction’, giving legal force to the requirement for schools to offer immediate access to high-quality remote education where students need to self-isolate, Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said:

“This is completely unnecessary and unhelpful. Schools have done an incredible job over the last 18 months to develop a remote learning offer from scratch, and throughout the pandemic they have had to balance this with providing face to face education as usual.

“There is no evidence that the government even used the last continuity order last year and we have no doubt it will serve little purpose again this year.

“The government would do far better to spend its time focusing on how it can support teachers and schools who could be asked to once again balance in-person and remote education this term.

“This must include properly resourcing schools for every eventuality in dealing with what has so far been a fast-paced and ever-changing situation. If more pupils do end up needing to learn from home this term, a grant of £75 will not go far in properly equipping them with internet connections to continue their education effectively.”