Blackpool pupils 'trying hard' to catch up on missed education

Measures including extra tutorials and online learning have helped reduce the impact of children missing lessons.

While a council report warns “the closure of schools and the reduced face-to-face contact caused by pupils having to self-isolate will cause some pupils to suffer from adverse effects”, many youngsters were catching up.

Paul Turner, head of school standards, safeguarding and inclusion at Blackpool Council, said: “Teachers say when children are in school, they are catching up quite quickly to where they should be.

“The children are trying very hard to catch up and Blackpool’s attendance has been very good.”

He added Blackpool’s experience of working intensely with children from difficult backgrounds had helped its response to the pandemic.

A meeting of the children and young people’s scrutiny committee also heard government funding of £80 per pupil to help them catch up on missed education would be used for initiatives including access to tutors, and “very comprehensive online lessons”.

Schools have also received support from the Blackpool Education Improvement Board towards meeting Ofsted requirements for inspections which are expected to restart in 2021.

Mr Turner told the meeting: “In Blackpool we are driving forward those schools possibly having an Ofsted visit after Christmas and they are well prepared.”

But the pandemic has prompted an increase in home schooling, with more than 130 new children on the Elected Home Education register.

Mr Turner said: “Over 90 per cent of parents say it is because of the pandemic situation, so that maybe is a temporary increase.”

Additional specialist staff have been taken on to support parents who are formally home schooling, including to work through any anxieties they may have about sending their children back to school.

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