Boris Johnson visits Bovingdon Primary Academy

Boris Johnson and his police convoy were filmed heading into Bovingdon Primary Academy in Bovingdon High Street this morning.

Mr Johnson, who celebrates his birthday today, then toured the school speaking to pupils, many of whom had been out of school for weeks and weeks due to the pandemic.

He joined a socially distanced lesson and could be seen talking to pupils from the front of the classroom, before venturing out onto the school playground.

The Prime Minister was photographed standing in a queue as pupils waited to wash their hands at a sink, and he took the opportunity to wash his hands too.

He was also pictured sitting down on a bench and could be seen waving to someone across the playground.

He also held a Q&A with pupils.

Watch Prime Minister arrive at Bovingdon Primary Academy

Boris Johnson leads a class at Bovingdon Primary Academy on Friday morning. Credit: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Children sit apart in social distanced classrooms Credit: PA

Boris Johnson waits wiith pupils to wash his hands. Credit: PA

Vicky Parsey, chief executive of Aspire Academies Trust, which looks after Bovingdon Primary Academy, said: "We were delighted to welcome Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

"He was keen to hear about how the trust and the school had planned for and managed the period of part-closure so effectively and to share views about today's announcement regarding the forth-coming Catch-Up Programme.

"The children were thrilled to meet the Prime Minister who was impressed by them, their staff and the school."

It was an honour to have our prime minister @BorisJohnson visit Bovingdon today to observe many socially distanced activities at school. He saw lots of playground games and spoke to all children in classes. It was great for him to take such an interest in PE! pic.twitter.com/nGwbFO1NMD

— Bovingdon Academy PE (@Bovingdon_PE) June 19, 2020

Lyndon Evans, executive principal, said: "The Prime Minister was keen to talk to the children; they enjoyed seeing him get involved in their learning and asking them how they were finding school.

"It was also an ideal opportunity for us to tell the Prime Minister how we've ensured that our communication and engagement with the children and their parents and the community had continued to be strong throughout this challenging period."

Credit: PA

Mr Johnson's visit coincided with a new government announcement.

A £1 billion fund will be used to help children in England "catch-up" with lost learning after months out of school amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The most disadvantaged children will have access to tutors through a £350 million national programme for the 2020/21 academic year, to prevent the attainment gap from widening further.

A further £650 million will be shared across state primary and secondary schools over the 2020-21 academic year to help children from all backgrounds who have lost teaching time, the Government has said.

The Prime Minister washes his hands. Credit: PA

Credit: PA

While head teachers will decide how the money is spent, the Government expects it to be used for small group tuition for whoever needs it.

Children in nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 have begun returning to primary school in England, and some Year 10 and 12 pupils returned to secondary school and college this week.

But all pupils are not due to return to school until at least September after the Government was forced to abandon plans to get all primary school children back in class before the summer break.

Mr Johnson said: "This £1 billion catch-up package will help head teachers to provide extra support to children who have fallen behind while out of school.

"I am determined to do everything I can to get all children back in school from September, and we will bring forward plans on how this will happen as soon as possible."