Urgent call for local councils to be given funding to support summer holiday provision

The proposals, drawn up the National Education Union, focus primarily on providing vulnerable children with safe, enriching activities and time for exercise and sport over the six-week summer holiday. They also include an element of personal study support to help prepare them for learning in September.

Commenting on the launch of the proposals, Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said that the summer of 2020 will be a ‘unique situation’ and this ‘local offer’ will make a vital contribution to children's physical and mental health.

She added, ‘Local councils need advice and funding to decide how children and young people can get outside in supervised and safe situations this summer, given the ongoing importance of social distancing. Local councils are best placed to audit and co-ordinate what could work in their area, given local infection rates, and to devise a realistic plan so that children eligible for free school meals will have access to positive and healthy activities, so they are ready to learn in September.’

To make safe summer schemes possible this August, and a seek sufficient numbers of volunteers, local authorities need ‘urgent’ specific extra funding from the Chancellor.

Ms Bousted added, ‘It is in the Government’s gift to make this happen, and to ensure that those teachers, youth workers, supply staff, support staff and others who would volunteer to lend their expertise and make a Summer Holiday Local Offer possible can be paid appropriately.’