School closures storing up a timebomb of mental health issues for children, says Hull MP Diana Johnson

Hull North MP Dame Diana Johnson questioned Education minister Nick Gibb after he told the Commons that the reopening of schools will be prioritised at the start of the process for lifting lockdown restrictions.

Responding to an urgent question from Labour, he said the decision had to be guided by scientific advice and based on clear public health data on issues such as hospitalisation rates and mortality, the rate of vaccination and the challenge of new variants.

Mr Gibb said the Government wants to give parents two weeks' notice ahead of any reopening of schools.

He told the Commons: "It is the Government's strong desire to reopen all schools, colleges and universities as soon as possible.

"We will prioritise the reopening of schools as we begin the process of lifting lockdown restrictions.

"We are acutely aware of the damage to children's education and development, particularly to the most disadvantaged pupils by being away from school and of the increased burdens that are placed on parents.

"And that's why we allowed early years providers to remain open throughout this lockdown."

The Prime Minister said this week the Government would be "looking at the potential of relaxing some measures" as England's lockdown restrictions are reviewed on February 15 but could not guarantee that pupils would return to classes before Easter.

Labour's Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green said the schools Minister "has failed to give parents, students and staff the credible plan they deserve".

She said: "I was pleased to see the schools minister at the despatch box, I've more hope of receiving answers from him than I'm used to from the Secretary of State, but even he has failed to give parents, students and staff the credible plan they deserve.

"We simply don't know what the Government's plan is for school reopening other than what we read in the newspapers."

She added: "What is the plan for full reopening?... Can he give us some more clarity? Will schools only return if R is below one?"

Dame Diana told MPs that Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield was a "terrific advocate for young people and has highlighted the effect of school closures on children's mental health and well being for many months".

She added: "Families in Hull North are struggling and as a nation we are storing up a time bomb of mental health issues for a generation.

"So I'd like to know what discussions has the minister had with the Secretary of State for Health about real and additional support to schools to CAMHS [child and adolescent mental health services] and to the voluntary sector groups helping children and families now."

Mr Gibb said: "She will be aware of all the work that the Department of Education have done in recent months, and indeed more than that, over a year ago on the children and young people's mental health green paper to ensure that we roll out over the next few years a very serious series of support for mental health provision in our schools.

"It's a huge programme, and it's designed to help children with serious mental health issues, it's also designed to alert and to take action when there are early signs of mental health conditions in children.

"It's a huge project and one we are continuing with and during the pandemic of course, we have put a range of measures in place to help tackle the mental health concerns that the pandemic is throwing up."

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has found that Covid-19 death rates among educational professionals were not "statistically significantly different" to those in the general population.

But Mr Gibb said school closures which have been in place since the start of this month were more about preventing unnecessary contact which could allow the virus to spread.