Only a few weeks ago I was looking forward to the recess and being able to spend some more time with my family, as I usually work in London for most of the week.
I’ve certainly spent more time with my family, but didn’t expect it to be in these circumstances.
I appreciate how difficult it has been for many others and their families.
Thank you to everybody who has done this and especially to our children, who must find the situation incredibly difficult, and are also playing their part in helping to save lives.
On this note I want to clarify that there are currently no plans to fully re-open schools yet and this is something that will be reviewed as the situation progresses.
A spoof letter claiming to be signed by the Prime Minister (originally an April Fool’s Day joke) has been circulating on social media suggesting schools will be immediately re-opening and that they will be moving to seven days per week to catch up on work.
I am sure children will be breathing a sigh of relief that this is not the case.
Before I was an MP, I was a teacher myself and appreciate that, whilst it’s a highly rewarding profession, it’s also hard work.
Thank you to all of the teachers and staff who continued to work over the holidays to make sure our key workers could go to work.
To assist those pupils working from home, the Government has announced a scheme to provide laptops for the most disadvantaged children and has also set up the Oak National Academy, which will provide around 180 online lessons per week.
Every week I see people in the community who have gone the extra mile to help others.
If you know a local hero who has gone above and beyond then let me know by emailing [email protected]
Again, I want to highlight the superb job our NHS is doing and praise the work done so far by Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS trust and Bassetlaw CCG.
Their work in making sure they have the required PPE supplies, carrying out swab testing and safely treating patients has been tremendous.
Let’s continue to help the NHS by staying at home and helping to flatten the curve.
