MINISTERS are looking at extending the school day or changing the holidays to help kids catch up.
MPs have personally lobbied Boris Johnson to consider after-school classes run by volunteers.
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Tory MP and Education Committee chair Robert Halfon told The Sun ministers were listening to their ideas.
He said: “We should extend the school day but not necessarily ask teachers to do it.
“It could be funded by the catch-up programme and use civil society groups to provide sports or other support.
“It would hugely improve the mental health of children — they’ve been locked up so long.”
He also wants an army of education professionals drafted in to help kids catch up.
Some catch-up school programmes ran last summer to help kids who fell behind.
Ministers are also mulling changes to the school holidays – but this is seen as less likely.
The £1billion Covid catch-up fund was recently extended with another £300million and a national tutoring programme.
Sir Kevan Collins has been made Education Recovery Commissioner to oversee a programme for youngsters.
It came as Welsh ministers announced primary schools in Wales will return from February 22.
Some kids in Scotland will return after half-term.
Matt Hancock said it was still too early to say what when all British schools will reopen.
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