Labour demands pupil 'catch-up' strategy as attainment gap widens after school closures

Labour has demanded ministers give a 'cast-iron guarantee' that no child will be allowed to fall behind with their learning as a result of the pandemic school closures. Some pupils were out of a classroom setting for almost six months after schools were shut in March as part of the coronavirus lockdown. The party called for the Government to produce what it labelled a 'close the gap' strategy after newly-published studies suggested the Covid-related closures significantly widened the attainment gap between pupils.