Kids still feeling the effects of lockdowns…

[sloanedanger]

I just got caught reading a really interesting thread on Twitter started by a teacher:

“Is anyone else thinking we are starting to see the impact of 2 years of disruption and time at home, due to COVID 19, in schools? Extreme behaviours? Some pupils very emotional and struggling to regulate? Low attendance compared to normal? Winter bugs hitting hard?”

A lot of the comments say Y3 is the worst, others saying Years 7 and 8.

My DS is in Year 2 and often struggles with emotions and self regulation at school. It’s made me think, perhaps there’s a reason why linked to the pandemic. Lockdown was hard, DP and I were home with very young DC, trying to work, poor mental health, emotions high. Very little patience.

I think the problem isn’t just lockdowns, it is bigger than that and basically the whole school system is broken.
before covid, schools were already struggling with a change in the curriculum to make it more intense (phonics testing in yr 1, times tables tests in year 4, new 9-1 gcse curriculum) etc that teachers were already struggling to fit it all in whilst also managing the overall wellbeing of the students and teaching social skills etc.
then we had lockdowns which have massively effected the maturity of young people, plus the impact on mental health has been incredible. But there has been zero flexibility given for schools to work on these. It’s been very much “carry on as normal”. But things really really aren’t normal. Year 2s and 3s that missed out on the fundamental eyfs years of learning through play - this year being the first school year completely unaffected by isolations - this is when they should really be repeating those years and focusing on the social side, but the curriculum has no room in it for that, they just have to go straight into the previous yr2 learning and rather then going back and teaching them what they’ve missed, it’s just push on forward. Which just leads to worse mental health problems because those already falling behind and struggling to cope with anxiety etc, are just being pushed and pushed further and feeling more and more out of their depth.
what really needs to happen is that these kids are given a fucking break from curriculum and testing. They will catch up eventually, but they need to focus on social skills first. Teach the years 2/3s like they are reception. What harm is that really going to do? Most European countries don’t start formal education until then anyway and by the time they are 16 and leaving school they are in exactly the same place as British kids.

This is heartbreaking. I can't express really what I would like to say but as a mum, that hurt to read. I'm so sorry for you and here. I hope she starts feeling better soon 🙏

Probably.

I will not forgive or forget that some children were considered worthy of schooling and socialisation, but mine were designated as unworthy.

Absolutely agree. The Y1 classes in our school are by far the most affected cohort (Y2 & 3 to lesser extents). To be blunt, they are a mess. It really goes to show just how crucial those preschool and early years are for development.

Clopper that’s good. Me too.

It’s really easy if anyone else wants to fill it out, I just did the experience part. I hope it stops anything like this happening again to children when it’s not needed.

interstatelovesong

People who demanded lockdowns and school closures - I will never ever forgive you

. This. . There was a total overreaction to covid in my opinion, we could see the damage happening to our own children. We allowed it to go on for far too long.

I observed the first month or so in 2020, but not after that. In particular, my family and I were exempt from the 2021 lockdown, because the state regarded my children's welfare as collateral.

I’m safeguarding lead in a secondary school. Had about 25 kids on safeguarding register pre Covid. Now have 80+. A lot more family dysfunction causing problems, - domestic violence, parents with mental health vulnerabilities etc.

As early as April 2020 people who were raising concerns that there would be issues, that the collateral damage of lockdowns would be great were vilified and shut down.
I can think of many occasions on this site where people were shamed for suggesting that actually locking down was not the right way to go or that the country's pandemic policy established years previously was not being followed. Groups like Usforthem, Great Barrington Declaration etc etc were mocked but they were right. Lockdowns resulted in untold amounts of damage to children across the world (and not from covid)

I get it and understand.

My ds is very sporty...he has never had a sports day in secondary school and is now in year 10. Year 7...lockdown. Year 8, he was isolating as a close contact. Year 9...it was cancelled because the weather was too hot. I feel a little heartbroken for him. It's only a small thing but something he really looked forward to.

Ive become 80% hermit. I have little interest in days out, holidays or socialising. I prefer my house which isnt healthy

Which again is something that could've been seen coming, had it not been inconvenient to look.

Sheesh. I remember listening to the radio and hearing child murder had gone up about 25 percent during lockdown. Thinking about all those children who were locked up at home all day long with their abusers no school etc to them respite.
I can't even think about it too long it's just too depressing

My dc’s school sent an email today about the high sickness levels amongst staff and apologising for the disruption to education this term! But obviously we’re ignoring that that isn’t normal.

I realise that Covid had a huge impact on children, adults, society, the world. However, I seem to be in a minority here because I genuinely think it hasn't had a lasting impact on my children. On me, yes perhaps but I can't see any change in the children. They were fine throughout the lockdowns. They seemed to take it in their stride. They adapted immediately when they returned to school. They seem just the same as before Covid. They're at the expected standards for their ages so I don't think the disruption to their learning has had a lasting impact.
I'm not being blind here - they really are fine.

I'll never forgive all the professionals who are paid to safeguard children who knew exactly what we were inflicting on them but chose to look the other way. They let those of us who dared to speak up and get savaged because it was easier for them to look the other way

@Reluctantadult

Thank you x

DD was in Year 6 when covid hit. She missed out on all her leavers stuff from Primary and had no transition to Secondary school.
Her Year 7 was disrupted, only taught in bubbles at first, then another lockdown, she did attend during that as we're both keyworkers but it was a couple of months stuck in the library with no friends.
She was a social, confident girl up to March 2020 when her whole world was turned upside down and her dance, drama etc stopped.
By march 2021 she was a shell of her former self, she developed tics, anxiety, OCD and stopped eating.

I'll never forgive what happened to our kids.

It isn't just kids. I've met 29 year olds who behave like 19 year olds (though that could be their basic personality as well) but due to the battlefield appointment effect are now in jobs previously requiring the life experience of a 45 year old. I know it's had a knock on effect on the 15 and 17 year olds in my own family, especially the more socially minded, and on the days I have to commute I definitely see a higher level of not giving a sh*t about others nearby whether it's atrociously bad driving or playing movies and personal conversations on the phone at full tinny volume.

The full consequences of this social/vaccination experiment will probably take a generation to play out though the very cynical part of me can't help feeling it was a haves/have nots preparation exercise for that not so mythical after all climate change thing....

But then I have issues trusting most politicians whatever colour money they're actually taking....

My mother is a TA in a primary school, mainly working with Year 1 and 2 but occasionally Reception year. Whenever I speak to her she tells me how these kids are struggling to meet their milestones, a lot in reception are still in nappies and a lot of them generally appear a lot younger than they are.

I'm another who won't forgive. I remember all DDS class parents in January 2021 screaming on the WhatsApp group chat that schools should close again. Then they did and they were all so happy. I was devastated. Couldn't believe it was happening again. The thing that really made me sick was the parents who got their kids a key worker place and were thrilled the other kids were off because it meant their own kids would be safer at school. Fuckers

I remember this site. The abuse and ridicule.

Absolutely shameful.

By march 2021 she was a shell of her former self, she developed tics

My Ds also developed tics. It's so sad isn't it.

Totally !!

A lot of my friends are teachers and nhs workers (only one nurse the rest admin)

I was angry and resentful of them because I felt like they were having such an easy time with their secure jobs and their kids in key worker places their kids doing fine when mine weren't .

They were just so so okay with it !! all the rules and the lockdowns and the school closures!! Judging me for not following all the rules. And meanwhile my kids and I were absolutely falling apart and not coping. Plus with the added worry that my H - the main earner - had a high risk of redundancy which he never had before the lock downs.