Leeds MP Rachel Reeves calls for disadvantaged children to be given more help at school
The Leeds West MP says not enough is being done to help them and warns they could fall behind their peers.
Last updated 22nd Sep 2020
Leeds MP Rachel Reeves has warned that the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has become even wider since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Labour now want the Government to develop a national strategy to help them recover learning time lost to months in lockdown.
Ms. Reeves told Greatest Hits Radio West Yorkshire that the Government has been "incompetent" when it comes to education and it's failed to provide catch-up programmes for learners.
She says parents and teachers are without confidence.
"I don't think parents and teachers have confidence that the Government are doing enough to ensure that children catch-up."
Labour cited research published on Tuesday by the National Foundation for Educational Research showing a widening attainment gap, with pupils in deprived schools three times more likely to be four months behind in their studies than more affluent peers.
Previous studies have found school closures may have widened the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their classmates by up to 75%, and that the largest gaps appear to be emerging between primary-aged pupils.
The Opposition party said the Prime Minister's promised massive catch-up operation'' did not materialise over the summer holiday and that the Government's £350 million national tutoring programme will not be fully operational until next spring.