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Children hardest hit by Covid-19 measures have regressed during the pandemic, with some who were toilet trained before the lockdown reverted to wearing diapers and mannequins, and others forgot basic numbers or how to use a knife and fork, according to the Ofsted schools watchdog. .
Older children have lost their physical fitness as well as their reading and writing skills, with some showing signs of mental distress, which can be seen in an increase in eating disorders and self-harm, according to Ofsted Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman .
More children are being taken out of school for homeschooling, particularly among families from ethnic minority communities, who are at higher risk for Covid and may be more afraid of contracting it.
Meanwhile, school leaders are “fighting the fires” as concerns mount about budget pressures.
The findings, based on 900 visits to schools and social care settings by Ofsted inspectors since the schools fully reopened in September, paint a troubling picture of the impact of the pandemic on children at all stages of life. educational system in England.
While children with good support structures have fared well, those whose parents were unable to work flexibly and thus were least available to help lose the most. Children with special educational needs and disabilities have been “severely affected” in all age groups, both in their care and in their education, losing vital support, including speech and language services.
Ofsted remains concerned about children at risk of neglect, exploitation and abuse. Child protection referrals decreased while schools were closed for most students and have not yet returned to normal levels.
Last month, based on 121 school visits, Ofsted reported that a third of schools had seen an increase in the number of children not attending school or leaving for homeschooling. That has now increased to half of the schools, following new visits.
Spielman said most of the children had not prospered or suffered significantly since March. “But it is also clear that there has been a negative impact, particularly on their educational development. Missed learning is indisputable, but difficult to assess. Identifying exactly what children have not learned from the planned curriculum and what is essential for their next steps is key. “
Spielman said learning at home remained patchy, some children had spent most of their confinement playing online with their friends, and after months of learning remotely, online squabbles now regularly played out in classrooms.
Ofsted also pointed to school leaders’ concerns about their budgets, as covering staff absences and improving housekeeping to protect against Covid have increased costs. A petition asking the government to reimburse schools for costs incurred due to Covid-19 has approved 13,000 signatures in just one week.
James Bowen, director of the National Association of Teacher Directors, said: “The government’s refusal to acknowledge the financial difficulties schools face due to Covid-19 means that not only is money being taken from the education and welfare of the children, but pushing some schools to the limit financially. “
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: “We know that some children need additional support to catch up as a result of the pandemic, which is why we launched a £ 1bn Covid recovery fund for schools to support children in need. .
“Our national tutoring program is now live in schools, providing intensive support to the most disadvantaged children. Evidence shows that high-quality tutoring can make up for up to three to five months of lost learning. “
