Britain’s largest teaching union is calling on the government to give “urgent support” and funding to local councils to allow them to plan summer holiday support for disadvantaged children.
The NEU says councils are best placed to devise plans for their areas and carry out health and safety assessments of different settings given varying local infection rates.
It also says local councils are best placed to bring together local providers, partners and charities and to recruit local staff and volunteers in order to provide “positive and healthy activities, so children are ready to learn in September”.
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NEU joint general secretary Mary Bousted said: “The summer of 2020 will be a unique situation, and it is vital we respond to what young people are facing.”
The call comes as the government today says it will fund a year-long catch-up tutoring scheme for pupils to recover lost learning time because of the coronavirus pandemic.