As schools in England resume for the new academic year, critcisim has emerged of the kind of help schools have been getting to prepare. Mary Bousted, joint General Secretary at the National Education Union told BBC Radio 4 that the extra costs of coronavirus precautions have not been met. Conservative Work and Pensions Secretary Thérèse Coffey joined the Today show to speak about the Government’s Kickstart Scheme, which is to help under-25s with finding jobs, but clashed with host Martha Kearney when she was asked about her party’s education policy.
When asked if she thought it was fair that schools should have to pay out of their budget for extra costs, Ms Coffey said: “I think there’s been a strong element of support already given by the Government.
“The Education Secretary was in Parliament yesterday being scrutinised by MPs, and I think there’ll be ongoing exchanges.
“We’ve already announced the billion pounds catch-up fund which is there to try and support schools.
“But clearly I’m sure the Education Secretary will be in ongoing dialogue.”
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Ms Kearney attempted to press her guest on whether there could be more money forthcoming to help cover the extra costs for schools.
The cabinet minister snapped: “As I said, the Education Secretary set out in Parliament what was going on.
“Martha, I’m not the Education Secretary so I can’t tell you exactly what Gavin Williamson plans next.”
Again the BBC host tried to weedle an answer, pointing out that there would be schools in the MP’s constituency suggesting that more money would be useful.
The Government introduced the new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme to create six-month work placements.
It is aimed at those aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long term unemployment.
The measure was announced as part of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s mini summer budget.
This was a list of measures to get businesses and workers back on track after the coronavirus lockdown.
The Department for Work and Pensions has also been given an extra £1 billion to support millions of people back into work.
