Children from all socio-economic backgrounds are struggling in the pandemic, says Ofsted chief

Daniel Lynch
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Children from all socioeconomic backgrounds are struggling after months of disruption to their schooling, Ofsted’s chief inspector warned today.  

Amanda Spielman said it is not only poorer pupils who are facing “educational problems” and many children’s motivation is “really flagging”.

The head of England’s schools watchdog told PA news agency: “A big slice of children who are struggling, it’s nothing to do with them having a marker of disadvantage.

“I’d really like to help people recognise that the problems coming out of lockdown for children are much, much broader than just for certain socioeconomic groups and special educational needs.”

Experts have warned that disadvantaged children are likely to fall further behind due to the pandemic amid concerns about laptop access and food security.    

However, Ms Spielman added: “There is a really important point here that educational problems are not just about disadvantaged children.”

She said problems with motivation spanned backgrounds and age groups, adding: “Some children from very affluent families are struggling with motivation.”

Headteachers have reported that some younger children were not talking to each other when they came back to school after closures last year.

Meanwhile, an Ofsted report last year found that children hardest hit by Covid-19 measures regressed, with some who were potty-trained pre-lockdown reverting to nappies and dummies, and others forgetting basic maths or reading skills, or how to use a knife and fork.

Downing Street was under further pressure today to lay out a clear plan for England’s schools to fully re-open after Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford revealed children in Wales may start to return to primaries after half-term.  

Mr Drakeford said the youngest pupils could begin returning to schools from February 22 if rates of coronavirus continue to fall.

He told BBC Breakfast the Welsh Government was working to try and return young people to face-to-face learning “as soon as it is safe to do so”.

He added: “Provided the next three weeks see further falls, we think we can do that straight after half-term. That’s what we’ll be working on together.”

First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford wants to start getting children back after half-term
PA

Boris Johnson has dashed hopes of England’s children returning immediately after half-term, saying that they hope to start reopening from Monday, March 8.

Prisons minister Lucy Frazer was asked on Good Morning Britain about Wales’ schools reopening before England’s and said: “The Prime Minister set out very clearly what our plan is.  

“We want to have vaccinated those priority groups by mid-February, then we want to look at where we are. What is the death rate? What is the hospitalisation rate?  

“We want to analyse that information which we will be doing that week and then we will be setting out our route map on the week of February 22.  

“I think that’s a realistic plan and of course fantastic if in other parts of the UK we can go quicker for whatever reason.”

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