Today (Thu 23 Sept) Labour asked an urgent question in the House of Commons about the impact of coronavirus on attendance in education settings and support for pupils to catch-up on lost learning.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “What the figures show is that children’s education continues to be disrupted. Until now government has been slow to act and offered less than is needed in terms of support. Children, young people teachers and school leaders are all looking to the new team at the DFE to provide the support that is needed.

“The case must be made that funding education is an investment in this country's future, not simply another drain on the nation’s finances. Up to now, what’s been offered falls way short of international efforts to help pupils. It is also well below the ambition that school leaders have for their pupils, and a long way off what young people themselves need and deserve.”