MP pays tribute to Cumbria’s teachers on 1 year anniversary of lockdown

This week in Parliament, South Lakes MP Tim Farron praised the hard work and dedication of Cumbria's teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking during an Education debate in Westminster Hall, Tim said: "Many people are reflecting-indeed, we all are-that 12 months has passed since the start of this pandemic. It is right to pay tribute to so many different people who have been public servants throughout that time, but it is also right to focus in particular today on the service provided by our teachers.

"Thinking about what teachers did at the drop of a hat last March-teach remotely from scratch-we see that, throughout the time since, they have cared for the vulnerable and the most needy, very often providing food for them directly out of their own pockets.

"We have also seen how, at short notice, they provided ways of ensuring that assessments were made when exams were cancelled; we have seen how they went through their school holidays without taking any break whatsoever, in order to get ready for new arrangements, such as covid testing; and we have seen how schools have reopened again, and how they have done so seamlessly and with attendance maintained at such a high level.

"Teachers have ensured that our young people get the best possible education, in school if they are the children of key workers, and at home by remote teaching.

"Teachers' performance has been outstanding; they are national treasures. On behalf of every parent in my constituency-indeed, I think every parent in the country-I pay tribute to every single one of them."