welcome to today’s briefing from Downing Street ( ) I’ll start with an update on the progress we’re making to beat the virus ( ) before moving on to an update on schools ( ) the first slide shows the latest COVID alert level ( ) the COVID-19 alert level across the UK has moved down from ( ) level four to level three ( ) as recommended by the Joint Biosecurity Centre ( ) the Chief Medical Officers for England Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland ( ) have reviewed the evidence and agree with this recommendation ( ) in all four nations ( ) there has been a continuing ( ) steady decrease in cases ( ) but this does not mean that the pandemic is over ( ) the virus is still in general circulation and localised outbreaks ( ) are likely to occur ( ) the second slide shows cases confirmed with a test ( ) seven million four hundred and thirty three thousand ( ) one hundred and fourteen tests for coronavirus ( ) have now been carried out ( ) or posted out in the UK ( ) this includes one hundred and sixty nine thousand six hundred tests ( ) carried out or posted out yesterday ( ) three hundred and one thousand eight hundred and fifteen people have tested positive ( ) an increase of one thousand three hundred and forty six cases since yesterday SAGE ( ) has confirmed today that their estimate of the R rate for the United Kingdom ( ) is unchanged on ( ) last week at ( ) nought point seven to nought point nine ( ) we want to keep the ( ) R number below one ( ) R is the average number of additional people infected by each infected person ( ) the third slide shows the latest data from hospitals ( ) four hundred and ninety four people were admitted to hospital with coronavirus in England Wales and Northern Ireland ( ) on the sixteenth of June ( ) down from five hundred and thirty ( ) four a week earlier ( ) and down from a peak of three thousand four hundred and thirty two ( ) on the first of April ( ) three hundred and fifty four coronavirus patients ( ) are currently in mechanical ventilation beds ( ) in the United Kingdom ( ) down from three hundred and ninety two a week ago ( ) and down from a peak of three thousand three hundred and one ( ) on the twelfth of April ( ) the fourth slide ( ) shows what is happening in hospitals ( ) right across the country ( ) there are now five thousand and thirty people in hospital with coronavirus in the UK ( ) down ten percent from five thousand six hundred and eight a week ago ( ) and down from a peak of twenty thousand six hundred and ninety nine ( ) on the twelfth of April ( ) as the graphs show ( ) while there is some variation ( ) most nations and regions of the United Kingdom are broadly following ( ) a similar pattern ( ) the fifth slide shows ( ) the daily figures for those who have sadly lost their lives after testing positive for coronavirus ( ) across all settings the total number of deaths now stands at forty two thousand ( ) four hundred and sixty one ( ) that’s an increase of one hundred and seventy three fatalities since yesterday ( ) when measured on a seven-day rolling average ( ) the daily number of deaths currently stands at a hundred and forty ( ) down from a peak of nine hundred and forty three ( ) on the fourteenth of April ( ) turning to schools ( ) in March ( ) when we asked schools to close ( ) we did something different from virtually every other nation ( ) we made the decision to keep schools open ( ) not just for the children of critical workers ( ) but also ( ) for those most vulnerable children in our society ( ) this was because we recognised the important role that they play ( ) in keeping those children safe ( ) from the start of this month schools began to welcome back children from nursery ( ) reception year one and year six ( ) as part of a phased and cautious return ( ) and from this week we started to see the return of years ten and twelve ( ) we want as many children back in school as possible ( ) which is why this week we announced more flexibility for primary schools ( ) so that they have the opportunity ( ) to bring back more of their pupils ( ) if they are able to do so ( ) in line with the protective measures ( ) that we have set out ( ) today with the ( ) overwhelming majority of primary and secondary schools ( ) as well as colleges and nurseries opening to more children and young people ( ) I wanted to take the opportunity again to say thank you ( ) thank you to all of the teachers ( ) childcare and support staff who have done so much and continue to do so much ( ) to welcome children back ( ) in a warm friendly environment ( ) where they have the opportunity to learn ( ) I think all of us ( ) who have seen our children return to school ( ) know they are enjoying being back in the classroom ( ) and being with their friends ( ) and their classmates ( ) school is vital for every one of our children ( ) that is why we will bring all children ( ) in all year groups back to school ( ) in September ( ) while many children have already returned to school ( ) I do understand there is anxiety ( ) still among parents ( ) I want to assure you ( ) that the wellbeing of your children ( ) is absolute top priority for every single one of us ( ) we have put robust protective measures in place ( ) including a hierarchy of controls and protective bubbles ( ) I must stress ( ) that it is in every child’s best interest to return to school ( ) if they are eligible to ( ) and able to ( ) this measured return ( ) is part of our roadmap ( ) it’s part of how we will recover ( ) and rebuild ( ) after this virus ( ) but I think all of us recognise how much children have missed out ( ) and why it is so important we support them to catch up ( ) on lost ground ( ) having opened schools to more pupils ( ) and set out our intention for a full return in September ( ) the next part of our recovery ( ) will be to roll out our hugely ambitious catch-up plan ( ) for all our children ( ) we must get them back to where they should be ( ) and put in place a secure foundation for longer term reform ( ) we will not allow an entire generation ( ) to lose out on their education ( ) or accept lower expectations for them ( ) that’s why we are launching alone billion pound Covid catch-up plan ( ) that will lift outcomes for all pupils ( ) with targeted support for those from disadvantaged backgrounds ( ) who are most at risk of falling behind ( ) because of this disruption ( ) as part of this package ( ) we’ll provide a universal ‘catch up premium’ worth six hundred and fifty million pounds ( ) for all state school children in England ( ) to help them to make up ( ) for the lost teaching time ( ) in the next academic year ( ) the Education Endowment Foundation has published a guide for schools ( ) on how the money ( ) could be best spent ( ) which will include intervention programmes ( ) access to technology ( ) or summer schools ( ) this crisis will have affected children in many different ways ( ) and for this reason I am giving schools the discretion to tailor this funding ( ) towards their particular needs ( ) and the needs of the children that they teach ( ) the plan ( ) also includes a new three hundred and fifty million pound ( ) National Tutoring Programme ( ) to increase access to ( ) high quality tuition for disadvantaged children and young people ( ) this will not only help children in the short term ( ) but will create a positive ( ) long lasting legacy to drive up standards ( ) expanding the number of high-quality tutoring providers ( ) for all schools to use ( ) this one billion pound package is already on top of fourteen point four billion pound ( ) deal over three years ( ) announced last year going to our schools ( ) recognising ( ) that our schools need additional support at this difficult time ( ) and helping them ( ) help students to catch up ( ) over the coming weeks we'll ( ) publish further information and guidance ( ) to help schools prepare ( ) for a full return in September ( ) we are working across Government and with the sector to ensure these plans are fully in place ( ) so that this can happen ( ) and every child ( ) of every year group ( ) has the benefit of a first class education the pandemic ( ) has dealt an unprecedented shock to our education system ( ) as it has to many other parts of our national life ( ) although we have a clear plan there will of course be times ( ) when we have to respond quickly to changing circumstances ( ) if this virus has taught us one thing ( ) it's the absolute importance of being flexible and adaptable ( ) when we have to be ( ) the education system has shown it can do this and do so much more ( ) we all want to see every child back in school ( ) and we will work together ( ) to make sure that we achieve this