Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the £1 billion support package to tackle the impact of lost teaching time announced on 19 June 2020 will include funding for 16-19 providers.

My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced a £1 billion support package for schools to help pupils catch up on lost teaching time.

Many FE providers are already open for 16-19 learners on the first year of a two-year study programme and all learners under 19 years old can be offered a face-to-face meeting before the end of the summer term - subject to the required safety measures being met. Our guidance on how to phase the return of learners in further education is underpinned by our latest understanding of COVID-19 and we will continue to be led by the scientific evidence.

From Autumn 2020, all learners, including those who are 16-19 and adults will return to a full high-quality education programme delivered by their college or post 16 learning provider.

Colleges should plan on the basis that, from September 2020, all learners will return to a full high-quality education programme.

We are currently working through the implications of the Covid-19 disruption and are reviewing options on how students can be supported to make up for the disruption to their learning.