Ulster Unionist peer Lord Rogan has called on the Stormont Executive to provide “all necessary support” for pupils whose educational prospects have been put at greatest risk by the coronavirus lockdown.
Following the recent UK Government announcement that £650 million was to be shared by schools in England to help children who had missed out on teaching time, Lord Rogan told a ‘virtual’ sitting of the House of Lords that coping with the mental health impact of being away from the classroom was also an issue for pupils in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
He then wrote to UK Education Minister Baroness Berridge seeking guidance on how much money would be allocated to children in the devolved nations in need of extra help.
In her reply, just received, Baroness Berridge said the Treasury would provide “a further £4.1 billion through the application of the Barnett formula to public services spending, including schools.”
She continued: “This comprises £2.1 billion for the Scottish Government, £1.3 billion for the Welsh Government, and £0.7 billion for the Northern Ireland Executive.
“That additional funding for devolved administrations includes funding to reflect, in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the £650 million for schools in England that the Department for Education announced in June. It will be for devolved administrations to decide how best to spend this funding to support recovery from the impact of Covid-19.”
LORD ROGAN
Lord Rogan said it was vital that a significant proportion of the £700 million allocated to the Northern Ireland Executive was used to help children most severely impacted by being out of school.
He commented: “Having spoken to teaching professionals, I know there are deep-seated worries about children’s resilience levels being eroded following such a protracted period away from the classroom
“In some cases it will take a significant amount of time for levels of self-confidence to be restored and that will necessitate enhanced volumes of teaching, coupled with extra pastoral support.
“I commend Stormont Ministers for their efforts to help teachers and pupils make a safe return to schools in the coming weeks.
“But the needs of those pupils who have suffered most must also be at the forefront of the Executive’s thinking.
“Tailored assistance is will be essential and headteachers will require additional staffing resources to deliver it.
“The £700 million of new money from the UK Government must be spent wisely and with the futures of our most vulnerable children a top priority.”