Eastbourne and Willingdon MP Caroline Ansell will head back to the classroom in the New Year after the Education Secretary called on qualified teachers to step forward and cover classes hit by Covid.
Caroline will go to local schools in need of staff on Fridays, which is a constituency day, throughout January and February to help keep students in lessons.
Her surgeries and constituency work will not be affected as she will undertake those after school closes.
This week Nadhim Zahawi called on ex-teachers to sign up to help with Covid staff shortages in the new year.
“As a qualified teacher committed to ensuring our children get the best possible education, I wanted to answer the Secretary of State’s call and help during what will be tough months for our education system in the new year,” said Caroline.
“I have been really concerned about how the pandemic has disrupted pupils’ education and I fully support the Government’s desire to keep schools open. If I can play my part in making that happen then I believe I should. Keeping schools fully operational is also critically important for parents and their work.”
Caroline added that her work as the town’s MP will have to take priority if, for example, parliament has to sit on a Friday or if there is a pressing issue she must attend to.
She expects however to be in the classroom most Fridays next month, as called upon, and is encouraging former and retired teachers, teaching assistants and cover supervisors to offer any time they have too in support of this most important of causes.
