Support for children’s education during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic

We recommend that the Department should: a) conduct a full evaluation of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, covering both the early stages and the more recent disruption to schooling, including seeking input from schools and other stakeholders;

Ref Page 13, paragraph 26, point a · Implemented 12/2023

b) put in place effective monitoring to track the longer-term impact of COVID-19 disruption on all pupils’ development and attainment, with a particular focus on vulnerable and disadvantaged children, and take action in light of the results;

Ref Page 13, paragraph 26, point b · Implemented 07/2024

c) work with Ofsted to reintroduce arrangements for obtaining independent assurance about schools’ provision, while recognising the additional pressures that schools are under during the pandemic;

Ref Page 13, paragraph 26, point c · Implemented 09/2021

d) act quickly on its early assessments of the catch-up programme during 2020/21, to ensure that the funding is achieving value for money and the National Tutoring Programme schemes are reaching disadvantaged children as intended; and

Ref Page 13, paragraph 26, point d · Implemented 10/2023

e) identify lessons for remote and online learning from innovative practice developed during the pandemic and take account of these in its programmes to improve the use of educational technology.

Ref Page 13, paragraph 26, point e · Implemented 10/2022