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?

Although I work in education, I can easily say that a lot of what kids are taught is, in the grand scheme of things, not going to change their world and so no I don’t think they are missing out and I do believe they will catch up.
How many adults can fully explain the different forces in science? Or how hurricanes are formed? Or an in-depth explanation of the events leading up to WW1? Or even a frontal adverbial? Most of us can’t. We learnt it at school and then forgot it because we don’t use this knowledge in every day life. It’s good to know, but it’s not going to drastically alter someone’s life chances by not being able to fully analyse Romeo and Juliet.
Teach your kids to read, write and do sums. Then watch some documentaries and discuss what you see. That is probably far more valuable right now.
The kids really will be ok

We were going back on that Tuesday until the Announcement!

DS's school was the only one in the area which didn't go back on the Monday. It was supposed to but there was a staff shortage so head closed the school at the last minute. It was then supposed to open on the Tuesday. Except it didn't.

The area seems to have a significantly lower covid rate than surrounding areas. It really has made me wonder about just how negatively letting the schools open devastated some places meaning they will be closer longer overall.

alexa I know of absolutely no teens that are doing 'just fine'. Not one! If you can identify one then bully for you. But the reality is that most teens are really, really struggling. As would anyone under this level of pressure and stress in exam year or even trying to do GCSE coursework on your own at home.

I really disagree that most teens are really, really struggling. My dd is 15 and in year 11. She has a wide network of friends, they talk very openly about mental health issues. The vast majority of them are fine....a bit fed up, maybe; missing their friends; a bit sick of online learning, but overall they are coping just fine. There are some who are struggling, but many of those kids were already struggling anyway. I accept that lockdown hasn't made life any better for kids with significant mental health problems, and I know that it's particularly challenging for those kids who don't have stable family backgrounds and close family relationships. I am aware that those kids are really struggling, and I feel for them. However, they are not the majority.

I'm aware that my dd's friendship group won't be representative of all teens, but neither are the struggling teens that you are aware of either. There are some who are struggling, and some who are doing just fine....exactly like the rest of the population.

I'm not a teacher btw.

I visit different prisons as part of my job, and I can assure you they are having a much better time than our children! With their pool tables and exercise breaks, banter and company - it looks like a dream compared to our kids.

Prisons are easier places to be because you can talk to lots of other people - at home children are locked up and trapped with nothing but a screen and a muddy wet walk.

The 'oh my children's school had ZERO cases' before Xmas is a weak argument.

Firstly, because no schools were 'fab at being covid secure' because of the lack of mitigation mandated by central government. Some were luckier than others, but it's a ridiculous argument to say that schools where there were covid cases did anything 'wrong' - they just had hundreds of children and adults with hundreds of contacts between them in enclosed environments for hours a day.

Secondly, if the school had zero cases it's because the new variant hadn't taken hold yet. In areas that it had eg Kent, school attendance was down to 55% due to isolation and positive cases.

Opening schools as the new variant was spreading across the country was, as even the govt eventually admitted, utterly stupid.

well January is hard anyway isn't it? Dc have phones, face time - xbox, rblox - millions of other games and way to talk to friends? They also have play parks , walks and families and homes

@Justthebeerlighttoguide thanks for your reply. It's not so much the work - I am a teacher by trade, albeit secondary, so have a good idea of what's needed/achievable and have been concentrating on literacy and maths - but it's his attitude to learning that has been irrevocably damaged. He's completely switched off and he's only 9!

It's great that others' children are enjoying it and doing well, but that doesn't mean the damage overall won't be massive and far-reaching!

It isn't more valuable for kids about to be tested or assessed on such things almost at the end of their courses. They're already into the 'catching up' phase with the clock ticking.
Those facts might not change their world, but their grades will.

My dd is much happier doing the online learning than she was last term when she had to isolate four times. Her mental health hit rock bottom whe she was forced to stay inside over and over again. One time she only made it out of isolation for four days.
If schools just reopen as before this will keep happening over and over again.

I lost my job last year. We decided to make financial sacrifices so I could stay at home until DC’s education stabilises.
DC are keeping up well with remote learning and benefit from a 1 adult : 2 child ratio. They have increased in confidence in their weaker subjects. They are still socialising with friends via video chat, and are having regular outdoor exercise. They are happy now and will return to school absolutely fine.
However, when they eventually return to school I think their mental health will begin to suffer. They will be ignored within the system. They will become ‘forgotten’ children. They will not fit into particular categories which are prioritised with attention and funding. Just like last September. Perhaps it’s just their school.

Yes, I completely agree that the impact and harms done by the pandemic and lock down restrictions will be massive and far-reaching, especially for children and young people.

Devastating for some.

It's a dreadful, dreadful situation which needs to be acknowledged and thought about, with solutions that aren't 'open up the schools and let's protract it even more'.

I think the impact is hugely detrimental. My own dc receive a good online provision from school, have space and the necessary equipment to work and support from a part-time working parent. However, they are utterly demotivated and disengaged from learning. They are becoming depressed. It has got so bad for my primary aged youngest that he has been invited into school for which I am very grateful. I am fearful for their future. And these are kids who are pretty fortunate. The long term damage this will do to disadvantaged children and young people is terrifying and, frankly, unacceptable.

@cptartapp

Marsha mental health for students and teachers. To get them away from screens. and catch-up on homework. Head has sent a link about the importance of reading for pleasure and extracurricular activities away from screens! All very nice, but my year 11 wants teaching please. His homework took the sum total of an hour at the weekend. What a joke.

God that’s bad Cp

I’d go crazy. Ds yr11 would not read a book. He’d what he does which is hang around with friends - online!

He gets screen breaks during each school day which is far better.

Surprised they can do that.

but it's his attitude to learning that has been irrevocably damaged

^ most dc attitude to learning comes from home though? This is what schools battle every day way before covid?

Homes with invested interested and perhaps educated parents will produce mostly dc educated to some degree?

With my dd its an absolute slog but we use bribes and threats of being sent to school ( used twice only ) we say they teacher has to view the work or they go in, we use lashing of treats - and let her do her own thing most of the time, which she loves and whilst she is doing as much as she can and moves forward who cares?

Would any child not work if that meant no x box, or tv or games or even anything they enjoyed? I do not force dd to all the work they set just the basics because thats all primary age dc need.

Many dc are already damaged being forced into an all day education system that doesnt suit them - funny how in normal times no one cares about them!

I think most people do believe it will have an impact but the severity of that impact ranges widely. Some children are thriving, and although I suspect this is related to the support available, it also shows that the school system didn’t work for all.

@Sittingonabench

I think most people do believe it will have an impact but the severity of that impact ranges widely. Some children are thriving, and although I suspect this is related to the support available, it also shows that the school system didn’t work for all.

It’s not down to support. Well not solely anyway. It’s more nuanced and about fit. Some dc thrive at school more than others, on the flip side.

The evidence from the last time is that it impacts on
Physical and mental health. Development and Achievement.
Social skills.

The effects were across the board.

The effects were less on those with an adult at home who was not working and had the skill set to teach.

The effects were greatest on children living in areas of deprivation.

If you want to depress yourself further all the leading children and youthwork charities have published research.

Expect more of the same with this lockdown.

My own kids - one became completed disengaged from education. The other coped okay.

This time one is enduring it and the other enjoying it but very tearful about missing her friends.

Both are young enough that I hope it won't affect them long term. If not he can afford tutors.

My DS is 12. His school is doing a great job with five live lessons a day every day via Teams. He does Food tech and sport at home, with specific assignments set. It isn't as good as face to face but at the moment we don't have any choice and he, thankfully, isn't in an important year.

My concern is with his social skills. He's becoming more reluctant to socialise in any way. He reads a lot and plays computer games so is quite self sufficient but is definitely becoming less tolerant. In the summer I was so worried, I sent him for two weeks at a holiday club even though I was at home.

I'll be much more worried if this continues through the summer.

@Mcmole

I keep repeating this to worried parents of small dc because I'm living it myself.
I have a younger dc with sen who struggles to read at 8, but was far worse in march last year and I have an older very high achieving dc whom I've never had to nag or micro manage etc.

Please don't worry about quantity of work, if you can imagine how many minuets your dc would get with any staff in a normal classroom... And how much impact your 1:1 will have... I'm promise the difference in quality is huge.

Concentrate on the basics... Encourage reading, keep her reading scheme going if possible (reading chest sends books out), get her writing a little everyday... Times tables... Maths and comprehension.

Even if she did 10 mins each of those a day... She'll be winning...

I know, I dragged a dd with a reluctance to work with me whom I found out had no knowledge of nearly anything last march... I dragged her nearly upto date... Boosted reading, got her spelling... Worked on handwriting... Got maths concepts started... Over 12 weeks.

It hit home, quality, quality, quality... With a working parent, snatching free time as and when.. And lots of relaxation.... Screens etc...

It’s not down to support. Well not solely anyway. It’s more nuanced and about fit. Some dc thrive at school more than others, on the flip side.

My dd is definitely on the "thriving in school" end of the continuum. She is naturally very extroverted and prefers to be around people. However, she is coping ok at home.

I do agree that it isn't just about support, but I think that parental support, home environment, stable home life and strong family relationships are definitely protective factors.

I suspect a lot depends on underlying mental health and pre-existing coping mechanisms. Kids with good underlying mental health, a positive outlook and well-developed coping mechanisms are likely to be much more adaptable to this changing situation than those who don't have these advantages. The kids who ensure that they exercise regularly, eat well, sleep at normal times, stay connected to their friends etc will probably cope better than the ones who never leave their bedrooms, eat crap, go nocturnal and stop talking to anyone.

I think self confidence is also a factor. It's much easier to be self motivated if you have belief in your ability, and it's also easier to talk about how you feel with your friends.

I'm sure that there are plenty of other issues at play as well. The point is, it isn't helpful to talk about all kids and teenagers as if they're suffering and living a miserable life, because many are actually doing quite well. Let's focus our attentions on the minority who are having a really tough time, and try to think about how those kids could best be supported. It doesn't have to be a one-size-fits-all strategy.

Let's focus our attentions on the minority who are having a really tough time, and try to think about how those kids could best be supported.

Some might want to focus attentions on the few and that’s fine although not sure what it means practically.

Even if dc are ok at home I think this situation isn’t to be lightly accepted. Too much reliance on screen for learning and not enough rl interaction.

@dontwanttooutmyself

Just wanted to pick up on your point about teachers not being at a higher risk. This was disproved. During the last term when schools were open, teachers were at a significantly higher risk than the rest of the population. And please don't compare it to healthcare workers - ppe and prioritised for the vaccine. Or bus drivers who have faced significantly fewer passengers because of lockdown and at least everyone has to wear masks. Or factory workers whose employers legally have to make the environment as safe as possible, and at least are working with other adults who should be able to follow guidelines. Care home workers have it pretty rough, and deserve much greater protections and pay. The fact is that last term the government did nothing, absolutely nothing to make schools safer. It was up to schools themselves to put in place pointless one way systems and lunchtime rotas, and it took weeks into the term for the gov to insist on masks. Even then, only for corridors.

Teachers shown to be at no greater risk of catching SARS-CoV-2 than the general population.
I saw this on the BBC news today too. It seems that manual workers/factory/taxi drivers and chefs are high risk along with as suspected NHS frontline and care workers.

[quote Perfect28]@dontwanttooutmyself

Just wanted to pick up on your point about teachers not being at a higher risk. This was disproved. During the last term when schools were open, teachers were at a significantly higher risk than the rest of the population. And please don't compare it to healthcare workers - ppe and prioritised for the vaccine. Or bus drivers who have faced significantly fewer passengers because of lockdown and at least everyone has to wear masks. Or factory workers whose employers legally have to make the environment as safe as possible, and at least are working with other adults who should be able to follow guidelines. Care home workers have it pretty rough, and deserve much greater protections and pay. The fact is that last term the government did nothing, absolutely nothing to make schools safer. It was up to schools themselves to put in place pointless one way systems and lunchtime rotas, and it took weeks into the term for the gov to insist on masks. Even then, only for corridors.[/quote]
The data released today and discussed on the lunchtime news actually said teachers are at no greater risk than other people who are currently working!
The occupation of people who have died was analysed and discussed again today. It appears teachers are more at risk is a myth and not supported by ONS data by occupation.