What is the impact on children of the months of school closures in your view?

[MTBer2021]

It seems there's a huge range of views on this and partly depends on how much your child's school is offering and whether or not there's an adult at home to spend time supervising home learning etc.

I am surprised that some well educated parents I know are so relaxed about the impact on their young children of months of school closures. People whose child would ordinarily never miss a day of school other than due to genuine illness (no term time holidays etc) but who seem very relaxed about how the current situation won't mean their children fall behind at all.

There are some people endlessly saying that children are so resilient and how in other countries they don't even start school until age 6 or 7 so there's nothing to worry about..... and there are also those who are desperate to get kids back maybe before it's even safe and teachers who worry about kids who are doing little to no home learning for various reasons.

There are ways to manage home learning for some and I know some kids are happier at home than at school but is it really a popular and informed opinion that the current situation will have no lasting impact on kids and can all be easily remedied when schools open (whenever that is) and with no specific catch up programme?

Well it's going to be different for each child and each family isn't it? Everyone is different.

My six year old is getting ok provision but I'm a SAHM who has previously home educated my older child through primary. So I have the knowledge, time and experience to help her all
she needs. She's happy being at home too.

For my 18 year old doing a BTEC that he doesn't like but had to do due to limited choices at the college he had to stay at, it's been a blessing. He's knocked off the whole two years himself. Did all the the modules, now just hands them in when he's asked and is getting distinctions. He didn't need the face to face teaching, didn't like the college, it was all just a means to an end to get the UCAS points for what he does want to do. He's over the moon not having to go into the college he didn't like (we moved at short notice across the country so his options were limited at the time).

So for my children, it's been fine. They aren't fussed about not seeing friends really. They just get on with it. The teenager spends hours talking to his friends online but that's what they did anyway.

BUT.

They are not anyone else's children. It's their personalities. Others are struggling. So it's never going to be one size fits all.

I worry about the problems this lost year of education is storing up for the future, not to mention the immediate and varying effects across my family.

DS1 is in Y11. He missed half of Y10 due to lockdown and now it looks as though his exam year is going the same way. His school didn't get a chance to do mocks before lockdown because of the numbers having to self-isolate (SE London), so there's very little to base any teacher assessments on. Not sure when he and his peers are supposed to catch up 🤔 And it looks like he'll be thrown into a'levels in September without actually ever having sat an exam.

DS3 is Y5, severely dyslexic, not a huge fan of school anyway because of his difficulties with reading, but after non-existent to disrupted learning for the best part of 12 months he has completely switched off and is working well below expected level across the board. Again, I'm not sure how we're going to tackle that disengagement with the way things are going, looking like he won't be back at school until after Easter at best. After all, he's only just over a year away from secondary school.

DS4 is Y2 and just like in the first lockdown I can see him withdrawing into himself, getting really angry - toddler-level tantrums and refusal to do any work/leave the house/speak to anyone... being back at school for that brief window had almost reversed the damage, but it's like one step forward, two steps back now and I wonder at what point it will become irreversible.

The only one who's in any way enjoying it or getting anything out of it is Y7 DS2, who has ASD and would be quite happy to self-isolate under his blanket and behind his screen for ever. And to be honest, he's the one who needs the human interaction and socialisation school offers the most.

I don't think it's overstating things to worry about a lost generation and I'm devastated that it's my children's!

We seem to be riding it out well this time, my 7yo struggled in lockdown one, but this time the school is doing full day online lessons, she is motivated learning new things and loves seeing and chatting to her friends on zoom. My youngest is much the same although obviously needs more parental input.

Of course you can't ask teachers to make an unnecessary sacrifice. Risk their health for other people's kids? No.

But you can ask a food production worker to risk his or her life for other peoples' stomachs? Or a care home worker to risk his / her life for other people's grannies? By your argument, we should be closing care homes and sending the grannies back to their children's homes, regardless of how bad that would be for their mental or physical development. We are in the middle of a global crisis and therefore we HAVE to ask people to make sacrifices.

Also hospitals have full PPE and are essential. Kids can stay safe and learn from home.

NO, the point here is that kids can't stay safe and learn from home. Their mental health is suffering. Their educational attainment is suffering in ways that we cannot possibly comprehend. And for the unluckiest kids, they are missing out on the one safe haven they have.

By your arguments again, you're saying that the short term marginal reduction in risk of 1 million adults is being prioritised over the long term welfare of 8 million children.

There is a valid discussion about schools being a driver for transmission, and that to me is the most important conversation to be having. There is ample data to show teachers are at no higher risk than the general population, so the "what about the teachers" argument is of far less importance.

I do think what happens next will have the bigger impact on education outcomes than the missing out right now. i hope schools are given some financial support and a bit of flexibility on how to use it best for their cohort's needs.

I know more about the younger years of school ( only a little bit) and getting those basics building blocks in is so important. I hope that the curriculumn can adjust to make sure its all firmly embeded before rushing on to the next stage.

This time I'm really staring to worry. I'm a reluctant SAHP right now but I have a year 2 and 2 younger siblings to look after so the amount of homeschooling I can do during nap time isn't what it needs to be and my child can't seem to do anything without me sat right next to her. I'm tired and stressed and we have no money worries and a nice house. I don't know how many people are coping to be honest.

I'm growing increasingly worried about the physical impacts on children, lack of running around will have an impact on muscle and skeletal development, being inside too much and screens an impact on eyesight, weight and vitamin D levels and that's before you get into mental and psychological development. It's not just the school age either, younger siblings are often sidelined so that older children can be homeschooled.

I didn't want schools to close and I'm starting to get very very angry about all of this. Many children will be disadvantaged for life and I wonder if this generation will see life expectancy decrease longer term due to childhood obesity and other physical problems (I'm not saying this is the case but all health effects of the pandemic will have an impact somewhere and in childhood are particularly important).

@AnnaForbes

I'm really struggling to accept the schools being closed for the forseeable. I think it is wrong and morally reprehensible.

I watch my dcs struggle more each day. They are teenagers and should not be cooped up with parents for extended periods of time with no exit date. Their mental health is deteriorating fast with the new announcements - they can see there is no end in sight.

People who think it is acceptable are selfish. Since when were our children's needs so low down on the list?

This. Mine is 4 and is desperately missing her teacher and friends. She's doing the work and school have been brilliant, but no matter what we do it'll never be as good as her teacher. She missing her friends so much, she's been mostly positive throughout both lockdowns (not counting Nov as school was open) but on Saturday bumped into a friend and on leaving she broke down in tears as she didn't want to leave her. Lockdown 1 she was just listless towards the end, laid on the sofa all day, wouldn't engage, didn't want to go out and play, everything was 'boring'

DS is 5 and an only - I feel so sorry for him. DH can occasionally work from home but at the moment due to illnesses he has been in the office more than ever. Maybe one day a week home.

I wfh and am trying to home school him - badly I might add. Either DS suffers or my work does - feel like I am failing at everything

My sons not doing well. I work full time from home. Tears before we even started today. He’s 11 and we’re in Scotland so we made a group decision as parents today to give up and most of his class have gone out to play together 🤷‍♀️. Plus we are sick of hearing about a Robert bloody Burns. Teach them something Interesting Ffs 🙄

Utter disaster. P3, had EP assessment not making any progress in learning, in Jan had just started to make some progress then fuckign lock down. School refused to give him online learning at his level - I work F-T - so he barely learnt anything.

I have no hope of him ever catching up, but every confidence he will learn he is 'thick' compared to his peers now and stop trying as he self esteem is already low.
I am beyond furious with the failure of the government - a more competent government would have got this under control much sooner. We are a fucking island FGS - we could have used this to our advantage, as other islands like Oz and NZ have. But we are STILL letting people in. STILL not paying low income workers so they can stay home when sick. I don't see any hope of us getting out with such fucking incompetence.
I am so worried about my son I feel permanently sick.

Another knock on impact on children is being around stressed out/depressed parents as they hat the home schooling set up too and in many cases are trying to work too.

In both adults and children the impact on mental health is not necessarily going to quickly bounce back.

I’m desperate for schools to go back and I’m not even in that bad a position/my DC are doing ok ish.

Kids are resilient - just on the whole not as resilient as they are being asked to be .

Parents aren’t complaining as much as they should because they are far too busy trying to keep all the balls in the air. If they complain then they are made to feel guilty.

Another knock on impact on children is being around stressed out/depressed parents as they hat the home schooling set up too and in many cases are trying to work too&
Absolutely this too!

Don't, but that is a false comparison. PPE was actively discouraged in primary schools, and social distancing not expected. Care workers (like DP) and those working in food production, as you suggested, can and do wear PPE to suit their needs, and are able to better control interactions at close range.
Not being in school during part of lockdown #1 was heavenly for DD1 with SEN and anxiety. Different child. DD2 missed her friends.

I’m devastated for my 8 year old. I was really worried about him in the last lockdown with lack of interest or engagement in anything. It started to improve with sports and school opening up again but with everything being cancelled and schools shut he’s lost all his drive again. This is a boy who excels at sport and lover his clubs but right now he’s wrapped up in a blanket on the sofa watching YouTube videos. I can’t get him to go outside or do anything. We’re both working from home while trying to homeschool him and our younger one and it’s an absolute nightmare. Our rates are now at the lowest they have been since September but still no clue about when anything might open again. This is so unfair to our children.

To give a different perspective from many on this thread, I am extremely worried about the schools going back too soon and as a family we are much happier at home.

One of my DC was on the shielding list. From September to December, for them, and my other DC the thought of having to share the risks taken by every other family was extremely stressful and it definitely had a negative impact on all our mental health. The in/out of school last term as classes had to isolate was also awful for my other DC who likes consistency.

I know of other children too who really suffered last term as they worried about making CEV parents sick.

Whatever happens with schools, it has to be more nuanced than the September return and allow for different circumstances. I completely understand the negative impact this is having on some children but I think those for whom the opposite is true have just as much right to have their needs met.

My DD has sen and learns far better with me teaching her or any 1:1, obviously I am working too so sitting with her means I get no break, at all during the day.

Its a short term thing and she will be absolutely fine, with no long term issues at all, after all she has been in school , off and on since the beginning of last year. It has not been a solid year off school at all has it. She is in her element - playing and doing what she wants. She chats and plays on line with her pals every day .
She gets bored V quickly in school so its great for her.

Older DD is MUCH happier now proper on line teaching is happening....she gets 9 am until the close of the school day. She is a teen who loves her bedroom, so again, whilst its not ideal and she misses singing lessons etc - shes absolutely fine and will cope. In fact she and her pals were extremely worried in schools...esp as one friends has a vulnerable parent. They and we all feel safe, which brings a great peace of mind.

I see that resilience in my y6 child - she has time to catch up. I’m sad that she is missing out on last year of primary & I know she misses friends & social aspects. I worry that with us both working & her sat infront of screens alone that she within a household is isolated further.

My y13 I’m more worried for she has had disruption for these 2 important years before university, she’s very isolated & I see her peers in a very similar situation. Their resilience is replaced with fear for their futures exams and living.
A number of 17-20 year olds are breaking rules and trying to find meeting places etc usually with cars - obviously my daughter doesn’t attend the gatherings but I understand why these older teenagers are. I worry that we will be left with a certain number of older teenagers less respectful of ‘rules’ in general and even more rebellious than we where at their age - that concerns me. Lack of future/thought/ambition/structure etc Not sure how that will play out eventually...covid legacy and the decision made ummm

Swirlingasongost

x post - my older dd and her friends were extremely worried going into crowds every day at school, faces missing , pupils pulled out due to covid etc...

@Swirlingasong

To give a different perspective from many on this thread, I am extremely worried about the schools going back too soon and as a family we are much happier at home.

One of my DC was on the shielding list. From September to December, for them, and my other DC the thought of having to share the risks taken by every other family was extremely stressful and it definitely had a negative impact on all our mental health. The in/out of school last term as classes had to isolate was also awful for my other DC who likes consistency.

I know of other children too who really suffered last term as they worried about making CEV parents sick.

Whatever happens with schools, it has to be more nuanced than the September return and allow for different circumstances. I completely understand the negative impact this is having on some children but I think those for whom the opposite is true have just as much right to have their needs met.

Absolutely.

I'm very relaxed about it for my own dc. Yes, I'm frustrated that she won't get the chance to do her GCSE exams, but she will get teacher assessed grades and I'm confident that they will be fair. She will be able to progress to the next stage of her education. She is studying really hard at home, so won't miss out on loads of content.

From a social point of view, she is missing her friends and extracurricular activities, but she is staying in touch with people via social media/video call, getting plenty of exercise and developing new hobbies, like baking. She is finding ways of staying connected and having fun.

She has only had 1 day off school in the last five years, so we do think it's important and both she and I would much prefer that she was there. However, it isn't the end of the world that she is not, and we aren't going to make things any better by wringing our hands about it, so we are instead looking for the positives.

I am concerned for kids who lack the ability to motivate themselves, and those without supportive parents, a quiet space to work in or access to IT/internet etc. Also for those kids who don't have the skills to manage their own mental health and may really struggle without the routine/structure of school. I would like to see more intervention and support for those kids, but I think the majority will be fine.

Sleepthief

My dd has sen also - I am working on the basics - reading, writing, spelling ( as far as possible) and comprehension, using leverage of comp time, anything to get her to work basically. Just concentrate on the basics and everything else will follow.

What strikes me is how extraordinarily naive some people seem to be about the reality of some children's lives. Children in stable, happy homes with attentive parents will suffer. They at least have a chance of recovering and catching up. But there are many many other children whose homelife is chaotic and even dangerous, for whom being at home all day every day with no input from any other adults and no interaction with other children is amounts to severe abuse.

What fucks me off even more is that when this fact is brought up, the response is usually that those children are on 'vulnerable' lists or have a social worker. The fact that people can be that unaware of how life is for some people absolutely blows my mind. Do people really believe that every child in an abusive/difficult homes situation has been identified and is on some sort of list? Really? Are people genuinely that thick?

Both my DC are suffering - DC1 is 9 and has been in tears most days, and has gone from being a happy, bubbling outgoing soul to being listless and bored all the time. DC2 is 6 and their behaviour has plummetted, sleep patterns disrupted, and alternating between having the squits and having constipation.

Like all DC, they are missing out on so much - not just traditional education (which is sort of being kept up with) but swimming lessons, team sports, activity levels (despite our best efforts, they hate Joe Wicks and getting them to do any other exercise is a nightmare), socialising, teamwork, turn taking etc etc. All the essential parts of school that they're missing out on. And my children are the lucky ones - we're engaged, intelligent parents who live in the country with a large garden.

Yes its far more nuances than the chant - kids need to be in school!

Many dc prefer working from home, this is one time in their life that learning has actually gone their way.

In fact for my dd who has sen - the first lock down I would say has saved her education, our school gave no support at all, not even a work sheet. In spite of working I had to do all the research myself on everything and stepped in, I did everything I could to support her, get her reading level up - help her writing, I spent hour pouring over tinkwl to find the right resources to target her needs.
It put me under massive strain but looking back I know its given her a foundation that actually school had not given her - the gaps were shocking.
I also realize a normal state school cannot support her needs I HAVE to step in even when they are back at school full time.
To be honest had we not had covid or lock down and no school help my dd would have been in a far worse position.