Summer school catch-up lessons are not seen as priority.

At the end of May, during the Covid lockdown, Education Minister Dr Alex Allinson suggested the possibility of summer classes to help pupils catch up on their studies so they are ready for the start of next term.

He said this could involve ’providing summer schools and camps by engaging with local communities and using the potential of teachers and volunteers’.

But the Department of Education, Sport and Culture has published its summer programme which makes no mention of catch-up lessons.

Dr Allinson said it was no longer seen as a priority.

He said: ’The department has been working closely with schools to assess how pupils have fared over the period of school closure.

’Teachers have reported an overwhelming number of children are now happy to be back in full education and work is well under way to identify any educational deficits and correct them.

’Some schools have concentrated on social interactions and well-being, whilst others have already started teaching the September curriculum to integrate pupils into the new school year.

’The need for summer catch-up sessions has not been identified as a priority, and teachers have worked closely with their school communities to bring everyone together after a prolonged period of isolation.’

He added: ’The summer programme run by Manx Sport and Recreation, and the Youth Service has been expanded in both capacity and scope to facilitate more educational aspects and team working skills essential to create the right learning environment for when schools reopen in September.’

Manx Sport and Recreation will run daily and weekly multi-sport holiday schemes at the National Sports Centre from July 27 to September 8.

Sessions are available for children in reception through to Year 7 and cost £15.70 a day.

The Youth Service is offering a range of holiday clubs, educational activities through the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, careers advice and support and a wide range of activity sessions.

Holiday clubs are for years 4-6 and other sessions are up to age 18.

Sessions are from £20 a day with daily and weekly schemes available from July 27 to September 4. They are also continuing drop-in support sessions for specific groups such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ).