Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support school children whose learning has been impacted by industrial action.

The Department is working to ensure the effect of the strikes on schools is as minimal as possible. In order to mitigate the immediate effect of strike days, the Department has updated the ‘Handling strike action in schools’ guidance, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/handling-strike-action-in-schools.

Where there is a need to restrict attendance, schools should prioritise vulnerable pupils, children of critical workers,(for example NHS and emergency services staff) and pupils due to take public examinations and other formal assessments. The Secretary of State is also encouraging teachers to inform headteachers in advance whether they intend to take strike action, to help schools and families plan ahead, and avoid full closures. Where provision in school cannot be delivered, the use of remote teaching is encouraged. The Department has also updated the remote teaching guidance.

As a result of these measures, the strikes so far have seen on average over 90% of schools remaining fully open or partially open to pupils.

Where schools had to partially or fully close, teachers will ensure that pupils catch up on any lost education is caught up as quickly as possible.