This week, after pleas from parents, teachers and unions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that schools and colleges will remain closed as the UK enters its third national lockdown.
The announcement came as a surprise for many parents who expected their children to return to school after the Christmas break, and for families without internet, the idea of home schooling and online learning is made more difficult.
To make sure all children can continue to learn, the BBC has revealed that it will bring together BBC Two, CBBC, BBC Red Button and BBC iPlayer, as well as online platforms, to deliver education.
On January 11, CBBC will host a three-hour block of primary school programming starting from 9am.
Programs available included the BBC Live Lessons and BBC Bitesize Daily, as well as other educational programming such as Our School and Celebrity Supply Teacher, Horrible Histories, Art Ninja and Operation Ouch.
Meanwhile, secondary school students will be able to access learning via BBC Two, which will offer programming to support the GCSE curriculum across at least two hours of content each weekday.
The content will be built around Bitesize Daily secondary shows as well as Shakespeare and classic drama adaptations, according to BBC. Students will also be able to view science, history and factual titles from the network’s award-winning factual programming units.
Students can also access educational content at any time that suits them through the BBC Red Button and BBC iPlayer, which will air Bitesize Daily primary and secondary daily.
“Ensuring children across the UK have the opportunity to continue to follow the appropriate core parts of their nation’s school curriculum has been a key priority for the BBC throughout this past year,” BBC Director General Tim Davie said. “Education is absolutely vital – the BBC is here to play its part and I’m delighted that we have been able to bring this to audiences so swiftly.”
“The BBC has helped the nation through some of the toughest moments of the last century, and for the next few weeks it will help our children learn whilst we stay home, protect the NHS and save lives,” Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, added.
“This will be a lifeline to parents and I welcome the BBC playing its part.”