Parents expected to delay children starting school after lost learning during the pandemic
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Updated: 15:47, 26 January 2021
Concerns have been raised over potential delays to children entering the school system as they catch up with learning lost because of the pandemic.
Millions of youngsters have faced major disruption to their studies at primary and secondary level over the last 10 months, with many studying remotely on their laptops, in their family home, or, working in small classes at school.
Learning remotely has been hard for many families
The government has decided to keep nurseries open during the third national lockdown, since January 4, to help key workers, but attendances remain low.
KentOnline Podcast: Academy boss warns government not to send all children back to school too soon
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Updated: 16:30, 25 January 2021
The chief executive of an academy trust in Kent says the government needs to listen to scientists before deciding when all children should return to school.
There are calls for ministers to set out a route map of how and when children will go back to class.
Hear from David Whitehead who is the CEO of the Potential in Everyone Academy Trust in Swale.
Also in today s podcast, asylum seekers being held at a former army barracks in Kent are to be moved to hotels if they receive a negative Covid test.
Government must not rush reopening schools to all pupils warns Kent academy CEO David Whitehead
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Updated: 16:42, 25 January 2021
An academy chief is urging the government not to rush into reopening schools - as the Prime Minister faces mounting pressure from Tory MPs to get children back in classrooms.
David Whitehead warns failing to heed the advice of leading scientists could land schools back at square one .
David Whitehead is urging the government not to rush children back to class
Over the weekend, Health Secretary Matt Hancock refused to guarantee that schools would be back before Easter, saying that infection rates would need to come down further.
Kent County Council leaders call for urgent government review on funding guidance for Early Years
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Updated: 20:07, 13 January 2021
Leaders at Kent County Council (KCC) have written to the government calling for an urgent review of funding guidance for Early Years settings during lockdown.
It comes as nurseries are due to hold their annual headcount which determines how much funding they will receive the following year based on the number of children in their care.
David Whitehead, from Potential in Everyone Academy Trust speaks on the issue
It is set to happen on January 18, but with so many children isolating or learning from home, there are fears establishments will be penalised for having lower numbers which could force them into closure.
Huge rise in number of pupils at schools in Kent during the third lockdown
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Updated: 15:31, 11 January 2021
Four times as many pupils area being sent in to school during this lockdown compared to the one last year.
Statistics seen by KentOnline suggests last week 20,000 pupils attended compared to just 5,000 last Spring.
David Whitehead, CEO Potential in Everyone Academy Trust
The country was put in to a national lockdown last week which forced all schools to close.
While only vulnerable and children of key workers are able to attend, there is no limit on the number for each school.
Government guidance states: We know that every school will have a different number of children of critical workers who need to attend. It is important that on-site provision is provided for these pupils, and there is no limit to numbers of these pupils who may attend and schools should not limit attendance of these groups.