‘Nearly every child’s education hit by Covid-19’
OFSTED WANTS SCHOOLS TO PUT ON EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AFTER FINDING THAT THE PANDEMIC IS STILL CASTING A SHADOW OVER CHILDREN’S EDUCATION. Kathie Mcinnes reports
ALMOST every pupil has fallen behind in their education on the back of the pandemic. That’s the worrying picture painted in Ofsted’s annual report published yesterday, which covers the 2020/21 academic year.
The watchdog has now called on schools to offer children sport and extra-curricular activities to help them ‘regain a sense of normality’ in their lives.
Chief inspector Amanda Spielman said: “The education and social care sectors have been under tremendous strain since the pandemic began, and their staff have worked tirelessly in children’s interests.
“Their efforts deserve the highest praise. But the challenges of Covid-19 were so great that nearly every child has felt the impact of the resulting restrictions. “Many young children’s progress and development faltered.”
The report reveals children with special educational needs and disabilities were unable to access vital support services.
And many vulnerable children ‘disappeared’ from teachers’ line of sight.
Leaders told inspectors that some children in alternative provision settings had become more involved in criminal exploitation, including gang violence, and child sexual exploitation amid the pandemic.
The report also highlights:
Loss of education, disrupted routine, and lack of activities led some children to develop physical and mental health problems. Loneliness, boredom and misery became endemic among the young;
The development and progress of many of the youngest children were hampered, with some even regressing in basic language and social skills;
Some children in care felt less safe due to lockdown restrictions and broken relationships with staff. In the worst cases, increased levels of anxiety led children to self-harm;
Longstanding pressures on care placements grew, with long waiting lists and children being placed far from their families or in unregistered homes;
The further education and skills sector was hit particularly hard. Many apprentices found themselves furloughed, or out of work altogether;
Prisoners seeking a second chance through education were unable to leave their cells to learn.
Ms Spielman added: “In order to protect older generations, we asked the youngest generation to put their lives and education on hold.
“As we look forward to the year ahead, we must strive to redress the balance.
“Every generation gets one chance to enjoy its childhood and fulfil its potential. We must do all we can to make sure this generation is not denied its opportunity.”
It comes as the latest inspection data for schools has been published.
As routine inspections only resumed this term, the proportion of good and outstanding schools has largely stayed the same over the last year.
In Stoke-on-trent, 76 per cent of primaries and 71 per cent of secondary schools are offering pupils a consistently good quality education, according to inspectors.
In Staffordshire, 87 per cent of primary schools and 75 per cent of secondaries have achieved this benchmark.
In Cheshire East, the proportion of good or outstanding schools is 91 per cent and 83 per respectively.