The disruption to schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic led to learning loss, particularly in certain parts of the country and among children with special educational needs and disabilities, and disadvantaged children.
In response to the loss of learning the Department for Education (DfE) developed various catch-up learning initiatives for the 2020/21 school year, which it has since evolved into a broader and more formal education recovery programme.
The programmes developed include the National Tutoring Programme, which provides children with tutoring and mentoring; universal and targeted financial premiums paid directly to schools; training and continuing professional development for teachers and summer schools. Some elements of these catch-up programmes are scheduled to run to 2024/25.
In May 2021 the Committee reported its concerns about the catch-up offer and the scale of hidden harm from the pandemic school closures.
Based on a new NAO investigation into education recovery in schools, the Committee will question senior officials at DfE on how the Department is supporting education recovery in schools following the COVID-19 pandemic, including:
- whether it’s managing the programme for education recovery in schools in an effective way;
- if it’s achieving value for money from the National Tutoring Programme; and
- if it’s is achieving value for money from the other funding it has provided to support education recovery in schools.
If you have evidence on these issues please submit it here by 6pm on Monday 27 February.
Please have a look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that has been published elsewhere.