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Coronavirus: Williamson faces MPs' questions on extending FSM vouchers and free laptops

Pupil Premium initiatives Government policy Coronavirus
The education secretary has refused to be drawn on calls for free devices and internet access for all pupils who need them, increased Pupil Premium allocations for schools, a continuation of FSM vouchers this summer, or holiday schemes to support disadvantaged pupils.

Gavin Williamson was challenged by MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday (June 9) after he confirmed the government’s acceptance that bringing back all primary school pupils before the summer will not be possible.

He said that the Department for Education (DfE) would support schools to bring back more children from the coronavirus lockdown before the holidays “if they are able”.

However, prime minister Boris Johnson’s ambition to have primary schools fully re-open for at least one month before the summer have been abandoned.

Primary schools were asked to re-open for children in Reception, year 1 and year 6 from June 1. Official DfE figures show that by Thursday last week (June 4), 52 per cent had done so to some extent. Mr Williamson told MPs that this figure had risen to 70 per cent as of Monday (June 8).

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