News - Justin Tomlinson MP

North Swindon MP Welcomes Fall In Rough Sleeping By More Than A Third

Feb 26, 2021

North Swindon MP, Justin Tomlinson has welcomed the latest statistics published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, that show rough sleeping in the UK has declined by 37% in the last year. According to the report by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, he number of people sleeping rough has fallen for the third year in a row. Across England, the numbers have fallen by 37% to 2,688, which is the largest decrease since the annual snapshot was introd...

Teacher Assessed Grades For Students

Feb 25, 2021

Students will receive grades awarded and determined by teachers, with pupils only assessed on what they have been taught, the Education Secretary announced today (Thursday, 25 February). Fairness and flexibility are at the heart of the Government’s plans to ensure young people get to their next stage of education or training. Teachers will be able to draw on a range of evidence when determining grades, including the optional use of questions provided by exam boards, as well as mock exams, course...

New Education Recovery Package For Children and Young People

Feb 24, 2021

Following the announcement of the roadmap yesterday which laid out a cautious easing of restrictions, the government has today, Wednesday 24 February, announced further elements of the recovery support package so children and young people can catch up on missed learning and development due to the pandemic. As the Prime Minister has said, getting children back into school has been the government’s top priority. From 8 March all children and students will return to face-to-face education in school...

Government Sets Out Road Map For Easing Restrictions

Feb 23, 2021

From 8 March, some of the rules on what you can and cannot do will be changing: You will be allowed to spend time in outdoor public spaces for recreation on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble. This means you can sit down for a drink or picnic. You must continue to maintain social distance from those outside your household. This is in addition to outdoor exercise, which is already permitted. Pupils and students in all schools and Further Education settings w...

North Swindon MP Welcomes Important Boost To Nursing Applications In England

Feb 19, 2021

North Swindon MP, Justin Tomlinson has welcomed the news from UCAS (University and College Admissions Service) that it has received 48,830 applications to nursing courses in England, an increase of more than one third from the same point last year Official UCAS figures show a rise in applications from 35,960 in 2020 to 48,830 people applying for nursing courses in England. This follows the Government’s work to deliver on the manifesto commitment for 50,000 more nurses in the NHS. Last year, the ...

Swindon Advertiser Column - 1.3 Million Laptops To Ensure No Child Misses Out On Their Education

Feb 19, 2021

As we all know, Covid-19 has had a significant disruptive impact on children and schools, and teachers, pupils and parents have worked incredibly hard to adapt to highly challenging circumstances – for which I am very grateful. With lessons going online - and being more reliant on computers and the internet - there is a risk that disadvantaged children could be left behind. This is why the Government has pledged to do all it can to protect our children’s education at this unprecedented time an...

1,310 Laptops And Tablets For Disadvantaged Students Across Swindon

Feb 18, 2021

Pupils across Swindon have benefitted from 1,310 laptops and tablets to date, as the government hits an important milestone in its roll-out of devices to support disadvantaged young people. More than 1 million devices have now been delivered to schools and local authorities across England as part of a £400million investment that will support schools and young people for years to come. The figures don’t include devices delivered directly to multi-academy trusts. The news comes after the Departmen...

£1.3million To Support Victims Of Domestic Abuse In South West

Feb 17, 2021

Domestic abuse victims and their children living in Swindon and Wiltshire will be able to receive more support thanks to £1.3milion of extra government funding. The funding will help victims and their children access life-saving support including advocacy, counselling and therapy in safe locations such as refuges or specialist safe accommodation, where victims and their children can go to get away from their abusers. Swindon and Wiltshire will benefit from £1.2million of the £125million total fu...

Help At Hand For Parents So Children Are Warm And Well-Fed This Half Term

Feb 15, 2021

£170m Covid Winter Grant Scheme to support children, families and the most vulnerable over winter Holiday Activities and Food programme to be expanded, covering Easter, Summer and Christmas in 2021 Healthy Start payments set to rise from £3.10 to £4.25 a week from April 2021 Suite of measures represents long-term plan to help tackle poor health, hunger and education. Building on the significant support given to the most vulnerable during the pandemic, a new £170m Covid Winter Grant Scheme ...

Swindon Advertiser Column - Blown Away By Steam Vaccination Centre

Feb 12, 2021

More than 13 million people have been given their first dose of a COVID vaccine, or nearly 1 in 4 adults, which is fantastic progress for the largest vaccination programme in NHS history. In a matter of weeks, sports grounds, museums, places of worship and many others have been transformed into the 1500 vaccination centres which have been delivering vaccines across the country at a rate of 2.5 million a week! Yesterday, I visited our wonderful Steam museum to speak to senior clinicians, visit ...