Nearly all children have suffered as a result of Covid pandemic - Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman

Children faced hardships throughout the pandemic, and the long-term effects on them are still not known, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman said
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Anna Davis @_annadavis7 December 2021

Nearly all children in England have suffered as a result of Covid restrictions and lockdowns, with loneliness, boredom and misery becoming endemic among the young, the schools watchdog warned on Tuesday.

Children faced hardships throughout the pandemic, and the long-term effects on them are still not known, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman said.

While virtually all children fell behind in their education, some slipped into criminal activity including gang violence and were at risk of child sexual exploitation. Others developed physical and mental health problems due to disrupted routines and lack of activities, while some children in care had such increased levels of anxiety that they began to self-harm. Some vulnerable children disappeared from view, and some youngsters regressed in basic language and social skills, she said.

In Ofsted’s annual report, published on Tuesday, Ms Spielman said she has repeatedly drawn attention to the harm lockdowns were causing children.

It covers the 2020/21 academic year, during much of which Ofsted’s routine inspections were suspended. Inspectors undertook monitoring visits instead and found that despite the best efforts of teachers, social workers and parents, “nearly all children” fell behind, while some had an even worse experience.

Many children with special educational needs could not access support, while waiting lists for children in care grew and children were placed far from their families or in unregistered homes, the report said.

Children struggled with a “hokey-cokey” education, with some in the classroom, at home, separated in bubbles or isolating alone. Speaking about the “ghost children” who have not returned to school since the start of the pandemic, which is highlighted in the report, Ms Spielman told Radio 4’s Today: “There is a real need now to pin down where people are.”

The report said schools must not just focus on academic catch-up, but should offer sport and extra-curricular activities so children regain a sense of normality.

It also called for the capacity in the care system to be tackled, teacher training to be improved, more support for children with special educational needs and stronger legislation to allow Ofsted to find and close illegal schools.

At the launch of the report, Ms Spielman was asked if more cases like that of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes could go under the radar if schools close again. She said: “We know there is a minority of children who sadly are safer in school ... and we have to recognise that by closing schools we make that minority less safe.”

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