lot more people in, keep a lot more people happy, but who knows? they are worried about having to police customers. i'm a landlord, i'm not a teacher. and i don't want to be telling people you cannot do that, you cannot do that, do not sit there, do not do this. that's not what it's all about. there's still a lot of questions to be answered about how even pubs with gardens will work. on the day that hostelries have now been shut for more days this year than they've been open. the guidance, of course, is these pubs and restaurants onjuly four may be able to reopen but only with outdoor seating areas, and here in the uk that puts everybody at the mercy of the weather. so that is the big concern for people going forward , big concern for people going forward, what will the weather do? it always has to be taken into consideration. danny savage, in a pub garden, and i and not better!

time for a look at the weather — here's tomasz schafernaker. i tell you what, in the short—term, the weather is not changing an awful lot. this cool dude weather is set to continue. always a threat of rain for the next few days but there will be some sunny spells around too, this afternoon it is pretty decent in some parts of the country. we have a weather front currently approaching north—western parts of the uk, so northern ireland and western scotland, through the course of the day it will progressively get cloudier and cloudier and rain will arrive, it has already reached western scotland. across england and wales, plenty of sunny spells and the possibility of one or two showers, particularly across northern england. tonight, that weather front moves on, turning quite soggy across the north, some of the rain slips further south into the midlands but it looks as though

the midlands but it looks as though the south and south—east states dry through the night. temperatures overnight will be about 10 degrees. tomorrow, the threat of rain almost at any tomorrow, the threat of rain almost atany time, tomorrow, the threat of rain almost at any time, morning and afternoon. most of the time the weather will be dry and quite cloudy, but when it rains it could be quite heavy. later in the day, the sun should come out across western parts of the uk. by thursday we anticipate a change in the wind direction, winds will be coming out of the east so most of the cloud and rain bearing clouds will be moving across england and wales. away from the north. that means that scotland and northern ireland on thursday, the best day here, with plenty of sunny spells. a low pressure which decides to park itself around the bay of biscay on friday and into the weekend, sitting there and churning around with its weather front spiralling in towards the centre of the lower, but through friday and into saturday you will see one of these weather fronts

coming back in on itself almost, that could spell heavy and perhaps thundery rain for the south end of the week. the best of the weather will be in the north. this low pressure sitting here for quite some time, it will scoop up some warm and humid air in our direction. so there is lots of cloud on the way in the next few days and the threat of rain, but we will see temperatures rising and it will start to feel a lot more humid. a reminder of our top story... ministers have abandoned plans to get all primary pupils back to school in england before the end of term. that's all from the bbc news at one, so it's goodbye from me, and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc‘s news teams where you are. good afternoon, it's 1.30pm and here's your latest sports news.

gareth southgate says he is extremely proud of how his players have reacted to the coronavirus pandemic and to the anti—racism protests around the world. the england manager says footballers have an opportunity to make a difference and he's been impressed with the actions of his players in recent weeks. i think ithinki i think i am tremendously proud of the maturity that so many of the players have shown throughout this period. what marcus rashford has donein period. what marcus rashford has done in terms of the programme to get food into kids that need to be fed, jordan henderson leading the nhs players together scheme, moving on to the last few days where tyrone and raheem sterling have spoken so eloquently about the situation we are currently in. so i think we have are currently in. so i think we have a group of players who understand they have an opportunity to make a difference, that their voices are heard, but they do that with some

responsibility, as well. you take a step back and watch them with great admiration for the maturity they are showing. admiration for the maturity they are showing. adam lallana has agreed a short—term extension to his liverpool contract until the end of the season. the midfielder‘s contract was due to finish at the end ofjuly, but that has now been extended by a further month to allow him to complete the season that's due to finish on 25thjuly. lallana will then leave anfield after six years at the club. the west indies cricket team has arrived in the uk. they're the first international sports side to fly into britain since the start of the pandemic. all the players were tested for coronavirus before they left for manchester and there were no positive results. the test series against england gets under way at old trafford next month. our sports correspondent joe wilsonjoins me. thank you for being with us. the west indies team is now in manchester, what will await the players? i was struck by the

significance of the west indies players arriving. they are in their tea m players arriving. they are in their team issue kit, with their suitcases, but wearing face masks. they will face two weeks of quarantine in old trafford —— old trafford, at the cricket ground, where they will be living in training. their entire seven—week tour will be in quarantine. and they finished that spell in old trafford they were moved on to southampton, they were moved on to southampton, they will be limited to the confines of the cricket ground, before coming back to old trafford to finish the tourin back to old trafford to finish the tour in similar circumstances. what they are doing is unprecedented. there are tests were negative before they left the caribbean and they will be tested again today. covid—i9 has had such a limited impact on those islands compared to the uk. for that reason alone, you respect for the players who have agreed to come on this tour. jason holder, the captain, very established leader in west indies cricket, a lot of the credit has to be given to him. we

hope to speak to speak to him in more detail he said briefly today that this is a huge step forward in cricket and in sports in general. that is the point. cricket to resume requires this international cooperation, and i put it on a different level to the other sports that we have seen resume already in the uk. no doubt, joe, the teams around the world will be watching to see what happens in england. as for england themselves, how will they be preparing? their preparation has stepped up in the last few days in the fact that the batsmen and wicketkeepers have now come back to training. that is an isolated way in various county grounds around the country. england have a big squad, 55 players, and it gives them the opportunity to have intrasquad matches as we move nearer to the test match injuly. i am sure they will take place in the practice

ground down in hampshire. when england move into the background, they will be effectively in this bio secure cut off environment. joe root is committed to attending the birth of his child during the series. england will have bridges in and out of the bio secure environments. that is one of the details that remains to be confirmed. we will take you to the house of commons, where the education secretary is speaking. the house of commons, where the education secretary is speakingm is now over 2.5 months since we asked schools, further education colleges and nurseries to remain open only for vulnerable people and those of critical workers. i continue to be immensely grateful for the way that our teachers and pa rents for the way that our teachers and parents have responded to these challenging circumstances. i would also like to say a big thank you to

all those working in education, childcare and children's social care for the huge efforts that they are making ona for the huge efforts that they are making on a daily basis to support families and make sure that our children don't miss out on their education. we all know how important it is for children and young people to be an education and it is vital that we get them back there as soon as the scientific advice indicates that we can. i am very pleased that last week we were able to take the first cautious step towards that. as the prime minister concerned on the 28th of may, the government's five tests are being met and we are beginning to ease the lockdown restrictions across england. based on all the evidence, this means that nurseries and other earlier

providers, including childminders, have been able to welcome back children of all ages. pupils in reception, year one and your sex have been returning in smaller class sizes, alongside the children of critical workers and vulnerable children of all ages who continue to be able to attend. mr speaker, madam deputy speaker, 97% of schools that submitted data to the department for education were opened at the end of last week. last week we saw the number of primary is taking nursery reception here one or year six pupils steadily rise as part of the phased, cautious, wider reopening of schools. by the end of the week more than half of the primary schools we re than half of the primary schools were taking pupils from these year groups and as of yesterday that had risen to over 70% of primaries that have responded. i know that schools need time to put in place these strict protective measures we have

asked for and we continue to work with the sector to make sure that any school is experiencing difficulties are supported, to open more widely as soon as it is possible. some schools, in areas such as the north west, are concerned about local rates of transmission. i can assure them that the estimate for the whole of the uk is below one. if robust data shows that local action needs to be taken we will not hesitate to do so, but we will not hesitate to do so, but we are not in that position. i know he will be as impressed as i have been by the work and efforts of head teachers, teachers and child care staff who are finding ways to make the necessary changes, while still ensuring schools and nurseries are a welcoming place for children, as well as reassuring families who may be worried about sending their

children back. the next step of our phased approach will enable secondary schools and colleges to provide some face—to—face support from the 15th ofjune for years ten and 12, and 16—19 students of the first year of a two—year study programme who are due to taking next year. this is such a critical time for the students, and this extra support will be in addition to their remote education, which will continue to be the main method of education for them this term. as only a quarter of this cohort will be able to attend at any one time in order to limit the risk of transmission, children of critical workers and vulnerable children in all secondary year groups will continue to be able to attend full—time. we have published

guidance for secondary schools and ensured schools have the flexibility to decide how they want to use face—to—face support and the best interests of their pupils. since the announcement of our proposals on the 10th of may, my department has published detailed guidance for settings and how to prepare. this includes planning guides for early yea rs includes planning guides for early years providers and for primary schools, and for further guidance for secondary schools and colleges, as well. crucially, we have provided detailed guidance on the protective measures that schools and other settings need to take to reduce the risk of transmission. this includes restricting class sizes, limiting mixing between groups and encouraging regular handwashing and frequent cleaning. this advice was developed in close consultation with public health england. the safety of our children, young people and staff remains my top priority. that is why

all staff and children including the under fives will have access to testing if they develop symptoms of coronavirus. this will enable the right response, were cases confirmed, including heating at test and trace approach to rapidly identify people most at risk of having been exposed to the virus, so that they can take action, too. we continue to follow the best scientific advice and believe that this cautious, phased return is the most sensible course of action to take. while we are not able to welcome all primary children back for a four welcome all primary children back forafour —— welcome all primary children back for a four —— for a full month before the summer, we continue to work with the sector on the next steps. we would like to see schools who have the capacity to bring back more children into smaller class sizes. to do so, if they are able to

do, before the summer holidays. we will be working to bring all children back to school in september. i know students, who are due to take exams in 2021 will have experienced considerable disruption to their education this year, and we are committed to doing all we can to minimise the effects of this. exams will take place next year and we are working with the regulator and exam boards on our approach to this. while these are the first steps, they are the best way to ensure all children can get back into the classroom as soon as possible. i wa nt to classroom as soon as possible. i want to end by thanking the child care, school and further education staff who have gone above and beyond over the past eight weeks, and who are now working so incredibly hard to welcome our children and young people back, while also continuing to support those who remain at home.

i commend the statement to the house. shadow secretary of state, rebecca long—bailey. thank you, madam deputy speaker, and i thank the education minister for advanced data for statement. i would join him in thanking all those working in education and childcare at this difficult time. for head teachers, unions, school staff have warned that plans to open the schools before the summer was simply impractical, so i welcome the education minister rolling back and up education minister rolling back and up to date. i must thereby display —— must state my dismay on the way this has been handled. if the government at the outset had taken on board what people had to say, they would not be the situation of having to roll back at all. what is done is done. it is now imperative

that the government looks ahead to what the education system needs over the coming months and years. children and young people's education and well—being will have been impacted cruelly by such a prolonged period away from school, their friends prolonged period away from school, theirfriends and prolonged period away from school, their friends and the situation at home may have been extremely stressful. the children's commissioner has said to me today, the risk i am most concerned about is that of a generation of children losing over six months of formal education, socialising with friends and structured routine. i am also concerned about the deepening education disadvantage cap that could lead millions of children without education they need to progress in life. the government need to face up to the scale of damage this is doing to children and scale up their response. the starting point for this needs to be the rapid action to support summer schemes for the summer. like the commissioner, i believe a crisis in education and children? attainment and well—being should come at us incredibly quickly if we do not step

in and mitigate it now. there needs to bea in and mitigate it now. there needs to be a national plan for education. will the secretary commit today to bring together children? organisations, trade unions, parents associations, health and psychological experts, off call, school leaders and head teachers to develop a plan? the secretary will say he has met with these groups, however, politely listening to concerns and not acting on most of them is very different to the creation of a formal task force were these groups play a key role in setting the principles of a national plan. in the immediate term, will the secretary consider issuing guidance for all children of compulsory school age should have a one—on—one meeting with a teacher from their school, and parents if appropriate, before the summer holiday start? alongside that support, will the secretary commit to increasing the resources available for summer schemes to help re—engage children socially and

emotionally? in terms of academic support, the government must support blended learning with more resources , blended learning with more resources, targeted tuition, significantly increased support for disadvantaged children, including considering a greatly enhanced pupil premium? will —like devices and free access to internet for all students who need them ? access to internet for all students who need them? for those in years ten and 12, the government must work with the regulator to redesign gcse and a—level qualifications to reflect the impact time away from school has had. longer term, the plan must cover all possible scenarios, including the possibility ofa scenarios, including the possibility of a second wave. not least, public health england confirmed on friday that the r number over in some regions. the government has set out the keeping below one is critical in stopping the spread of the virus, but the government does not appear to have issued any direction to schools in those regions, so what is

the secretary? safety advice? should they oppose plans for wider reopening? do they need to take additional measures, or is it a cce pta ble additional measures, or is it acceptable to simply carry on bringing an additional pupils with the r number above one? a secretary infers the latter, i ask him to publish the scientific modelling and reassure schools in these regions. finally, the government has confirmed that the free school meal vouchers scheme will not continue over the summer holidays. with 200,000 more children expected to be living below the poverty line by the end of the year, as jobless as head family incomes, this is a deeply callous move by the government. will the secretary of state change his mind today and commit to funding free school meals over the summer holidays? secretary of state. i

would hope that the honourable lady opposite and myself are completely united in our concerns and making sure that there is not a generation of children that miss out. we recognise and understand the truly extraordinary times we are living in and we are asking both children to learn in, and teachers to teach in and all those who support them. we need to recognise that we bring need to bring children back into the classroom. if it was up to the honourable lady she would not be bringing children into the classroom and so the union said she was able to do so. while we will continue to work with all, we recognise how incredibly important it is to do the best for every single child. that is why it is so welcome to see so many

schools opening their doors, welcoming children in and giving them the very best of what they can offer. she raises an important point to point summer schemes, but i would say that we need to lift our eyes higher and to be more ambitious. she is right to highlight the fact that there are challenges, real challenges that children have suffered as a consequence of this knock—down. but to put this right, we need to take a longer approach of how we can support children over a longer period of time, and that is what we will be working towards, and thatis what we will be working towards, and that is what we will be delivering. yes, we will be working, i continue to work, with groups and organisations right across the spectrum to make sure that the policies are evidence—based and they will deliver for children, because we are not going to be doing virtue signalling, we will take the actions that will make a real improvement and a real difference to children?

lives. she is right to highlight the importance of working with the regulator, and that is what we are doing, including with representative organisations of schools and teachers to make sure that those children who are going to be facing exams next year, whether that is at gcse, a—level, exams next year, whether that is at gcse, a-level, btec, exams next year, whether that is at gcse, a—level, btec, other qualifications, to ensure that those exams are fairand qualifications, to ensure that those exams are fair and reflect their ha rd exams are fair and reflect their hard work. the honourable lady mentioned the issue of sage and the data from public—health income —— public health england. they are an independent body. sage publish all the data and they will do so in reference to this. in terms of local authorities right across the country, whether it is in the north—west or in the northeast, southeast, southwest, we will work with all local authorities where

they have concerns. we will work with them and public health england so they get the best advice. the interests of children, the interest of those who work in schools, are my primary interest and may focus on making sure that we can bring schools back. of course, we will work with those local authorities, but we do start to need to bring all schools back in every part of this country. if the evidence starts to point to the fact that we need to close schools in small clusters as a result of this, then obviously that is the action we will take. but only on the best advice from public health england. at the moment the advice from public health england and sage is that all schools can open and should open. we now go to the chair of the education select committee. thank you. why is it that we can turn a blind eye to thousands

of demonstrators campaign for pumps and garden centres to open, yet it is so hard to open our schools? we know that 700,000 disadvantaged children are not being home worked at school and many don't have access to the internet. what is the government doing to help these disadvantaged children learn again and stop an epidemic of educational poverty? can we have a long—term plan for a catch up premium to look after these left behind children? will he also reconsider ensuring that these children get free school meals over the summer, given the financial anxieties that their families have to face during the pandemic? my right honourable friend will be aware that we are already in the process of rolling out it equipment right across the school estate, as well as to those children who are most vulnerable. 100,000 of those laptops have already been distributed to children who are most

vulnerable and most disadvantaged. we took the decision to ensure that they were prioritised over and above schools, those children who have social workers. we have a further 75,000 computers that will be distributed to schools over the coming weeks and we are on schedule to distribute the full 230,000 of those computers over the coming month, as on schedule. my right honourable friend is right to highlight the fact that we do need a long—term plan. that is what we are doing. we recognise that the learning loss is not something i will be corrected over a few weeks, but this is an action that needs to be taken over a long period of time, and that is the approach we are taking. carol monaghan. adam —— thank you, madam deputy speaker. i thank you, madam deputy speaker. i thank the secretary of state for advance sight of this statement.

lourdes secondary in glasgow tragically lost to people this week and i'm sure the whole house will join me in offering our condolences to theirfamilies, join me in offering our condolences to their families, friends and the entire school community. during the urgent question on school reopening last month, i asked the secretary of state where, with a maximum of 15 pupils per class, the additional rooms and teachers were coming from. he stuck his head in the sand, ignored my questions, the concerns raised by the teaching profession and those are parents. it is no surprise we are back in less than four weeks later to find that the government's own social distancing rules make it impossible for primary schools in england to admit all people to for the summer holidays. why has it taken the government so long to recognise what was so blindingly obvious. there needs to

bea blindingly obvious. there needs to be a plant that focuses on blended learning with greatly increased support for disadvantaged children. is he planning, scotland has done, to use public buildings, such as libraries and council offices, to relieve pressure on classroom space? what consultation will take place with the teaching profession to ensure that the government's plans for reopening are realistic? will he commit to publishing modelling of the increased number of covert cases that could potentially be seen in school—based staff as a result of reopening the schools? finally, will he ensure that any decision taken are based on published scientific advice and with the agreement of local councils and school leaders, rather than simply forcing through what has been described as delivering the impossible? secretary of state. i very much join with the

honourable lady and passing on my deep condolences notjust to the families, but at the schools and communities that have lost loved ones, as she highlighted at the start of a question. we will continue to work with teachers unions as well as school representative organisations as we look to expand the number of children who are able to attend primary schools, as well as we continue with the expansion of more pupils attending schools, including yea rs ten pupils attending schools, including years ten and 12 and those in further education colleges, which will be starting from the week commencing the 15th ofjune. as we welcome more children into the classroom, as we welcome more children having the opportunity to learn in different year groups, we will see the real benefit of how the children are able to have that opportunity to be with her teachers, be with her friends once

opportunity to be with her teachers, be with herfriends once more. the honourable lady is right to highlight the fact that we do have limitations, while we have a limit of 15 children per class. that obviously does limit the ability to have as many year groups in school as we would like. as this has changed, and as it is modified, this will give us the ability to slowly and cautiously move forward in terms of welcoming more children back to school when that is the right time. every two months represents more than 1% of a child's childhood and many children will have been out of school for six months and the impact of those from the most deprived backgrounds will be considerable. can the secretary of state look at catch up schemes over the summer and over the next year looks at mobilising the many students who are

now delaying