I’m calling on the UK Government to mandate that primary schools run recovery programmes with teacher led catch-up classes over the summer.  As a mum I feel continuing concern about the government’s failure to prioritise children’s education in the coronavirus crisis, and disappointment that many primary school heads have not taken a more 'can do' attitude.

Government's lack of a coherent plan has given bad primary schools the opportunity to hide from their responsibilities to children and parents.  While there have been examples of star teachers going above and beyond, my experience and that of most parents I know, is that primary schools have failed them and their children.

The Government has now confirmed that primary schools will not return before the summer and many of us feel that this decision has been taken to the detriment of our children.  It goes without question that the vulnerable must continue to be protected, but can this not happen while also protecting the mental health and educational achievement of our children? We think it can.

Since primary schools closed parents have struggled.  For most there has been an inconsistency of work set, no pastoral care and a lack of support for children's mental well-being.  This has to stop now, children and parents are at breaking point.  

The Government has an opportunity to undo some of the damage - but it must mandate summer catch-up classes and demand that primary schools look at what they can do - rather than what they can't.  

Giving evidence to the Lords public services committee the chief inspector of schools, Amanda Spielman, recently said (as reported in The Guardian): “So many people perhaps have been looking at this from the point of view of what they can’t do, rather than what they can.

Spielman also said the scale of the medical and care home crisis meant the focus had been on adults and mostly older adults during the pandemic, and children’s interests had been deferred. 

Our children are cut adrift, primary schools need to step up and find ways to support them.  

Please help by signing this petition.