Following the period of extended school closure, many pupils will have missed significant amounts of learning that would otherwise have taken place. They will be significantly behind where they might otherwise have reasonably expected to be at this point in their school life.

It is clear that the most significant educational conversation about pupil progress over the next 12 months is likely to be around the work of schools to support these pupils to catch up and to minimise the negative impact of closure on their learning, and therefore their life chances.

To this end, the government is providing £1 billion of additional funding to schools to support this effort. The strategic framework within which we ensure this spending is well considered and impactful at school level, is therefore a critical part of our work over the next year.