First published in The Times, 3 July 2020:
Amid all the coronavirus gloom, at least we’ve been able to smile at TV interviewees being interrupted as their children demand chocolate biscuits or rearrange photographs on shelves. Many parents have done everything possible to look after their children and keep them learning. For millions of school-aged pupils, however, the effects of the pandemic have been devastating.
University College London has found that about 2.3 million children have been doing barely any school work. The National Foundation of Education Research has reported that 40 per cent of pupils have had little contact with teachers. This could prove an ice age in terms of educational attainment.
With children these days exposed to online harms, county lines gangs and high-pressure situations at home, a new frontier of vulnerabilities has appeared, according to the Safeguarding Alliance. The lockdown has also created an epidemic of educational poverty and a digital divide. As the children’s commissioner has pointed out, 700,000 children don’t have access to a computer at home.
We must get children learning again. The government’s announcement that all children will be back in September and the detailed guidance set out are a giant leap forward. This comes on top of the successful online Oak Academy, the voucher scheme for free school meals, and a £1 billion catch-up programme. All this will go some way to ensuring that schools can look after those who have been left behind.
Where possible the Alan Turing summer schools or camps should open over the coming weeks with the same will and determination shown with the Nightingale hospitals.
Of course, the reopening of schools will be no mean feat for teachers and support staff — many of whom have been heroic throughout this whole coronavirus period.
There will be problems along the way. However, while some schools may not completely open, or may have to close in the event of an outbreak, this should not deter other schools from reopening for all their pupils.
Evidence from around the world points to children being relatively safe from Covid-19. As a country, we have to make a decision either between the minimal risk to children of being back in school or the significant risk of millions stuck in an educational time-warp, to the detriment of their mental health and wellbeing.
The trade unions, the opposition frontbench and all those in education need to come together to make sure schools open in September. What is the alternative? Children in lockdown for yet more weeks and months?
We must learn from this pandemic. The government needs to examine why so many children have not been able to learn or have consistent contact with teachers. Ofsted, particularly, and local authorities should be working with schools and setting clear guidance on online learning, homework and teacher contact.
If this virus strikes again, our teachers and children should be properly equipped. Above all, the left-behind children must not be disadvantaged further.
