What nerve ! Today Gillian Keegan tells schools to 'get on their backs' to help solve a concrete crisis

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Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, under fire, has asked school leaders to 'let off steam' to help solve the concrete crisis collapsing, as The Independent can reveal. Safety fears have now spread to care homes.

For the second day in a row, Ms Keegan has been embroiled in an extraordinary row over the scandal as the government steps up its efforts in its handling of the issue.

She insisted that her department had done a "great job" - despite the order to close or partially close more than 100 schools just days before the start of the new school year.

But she has been accused of 'pointing fingers' and trying to blame individual schools, while senior Tory MPs have warned her job is 'at risk' .

Due to concerns over the concrete, which has been compared to an 'Aero bar', spreading, The Independent understands that the government is probing care home providers in about potential concerns in their areas.

This came as:

NHS England has urged health officials to carry out an urgent review of hospitals – and draw up evacuation plans should the need arise closing. The crisis has sparked panic in other public buildings, including theaters and the Houses of Parliament. The Chief Inspector of Prisons said it would be "extremely concerning" if the material was found in prisons. It emerged that only four schools had been refurbished under the government's main reconstruction programme, despite Rishi Sunak's promise to cover 50 a year. p>The government is still scrambling to find out how many public buildings might be affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) – but has no plans to tell the public where they are, Number 10 said.< /p>

The Prime Minister chaired a meeting on the matter on Monday, although the work will be led by Cabinet Minister Jeremy Quin...