Do you think your kids' educational achievement will suffer?

[Echobelly]

I think I'm lucky as my kids aren't in really essential years (start of primary, secondary exams) and both schools are mounting a fairly good provision online, especially the secondary. And TBF, we are a very fortunate household where the kids have space and equipment to learn. Even with DS (Y5) having ADHD, I don't feel as though either of them will underperform academically in the long run because of this.

Emotionally/socially I have more concerns for what they've missed out on, especially with DS having some challenges to managing social skills, and DD missing out on chunks of her first and second year of secondary school - I feel that chould have more of an impact for them than missed learning.

No as far as my kids are concerned I think they'll be just fine. (not in exam or transition years though)

Academically for mine- probably!
Socially and emotionally? - no my kids are very happy at home! They prefer school but they’re enjoying their time off. I really don’t think that will be a barrier for mine.

I’m a TA and every single child was behind and only the minority have exceeded the age related expectations at my school. The start of primary is absolutely essential for the building blocks so sounds like you do have one in a crucial year.

I don't see how it won't. Although DD is only in year 5, she's getting almost nothing from her (previously perfectly good) school and DH and are working fulltime (both in KW roles) so can't fill the gap. Feedback to school is getting us nowhere.

I don't see how missing what could well end up being 2 terms of school could not have an impact longer term.

I have a DD half way through a degree who has missed a vital placement and a DS who should be sitting Nat 5’s this year, just got an email from school about picking highers. I’ve not seen a teacher since 2nd year parents evening and last report was just tick box. He’s doing what has been set by school but not enough at this stage and definitely needs the social interaction as I’ve noticed a big dip recently

Mine are years 7, 5 and R. All three started new schools in September. The older two I think will be ok academically, both schools have good provision, my eldest is academically able, and I am lucky that I have time to support my middle one with his work. Socially and emotionally is a different story though, especially for my middle one.

I worry most about my little one, who isn’t really engaging with the work from school (which isn’t that much or that great). He is also on the SEN register for speech but has never had a proper assessment because of restrictions. I feel he is missing out on a really crucial bit of school that is very hard to replicate at home.

Mine are year 3 and year 1. Both ticking along ok and the younger one's reading and writing has really come on over the academic year. Mentally he seems fine but I'm sad for him as he was forming friendships at school and both reception and year 1 have been so disrupted.

Older one doesn't want to engage with work so much and has moments of refusing. She's doing ok- she's very bright anyway but she's slacking at times. Misses her best friend lots.

They're young, academically I don't think that this has to be a disaster. I'm more concerned that their mental health stays in tact and they can get back to being around other children ASAP.

My main concern is we have a useless government and a crap DfE, that's going to be the main obstacle in them achieving well despite the setbacks they've faced. Already the talk is of longer school days, summer school, which is unfair on children, families and teachers. It's the DfE that needs to change, the curriculum that should be adapted. They really are pathetic.

I'm also aware that it's a much more pressing situation for the current year 10/11/12 and 13 though, I feel for these children and their parents a great deal.

I suppose to some extent I'm not sure how much work DS gets done at school as a kid with ADHD in a class of 30 kids where he often won't start without being hovered over. I mean they do try with him, but there's only so much individualised attention they can give, so while he's not producing reams of work at home, I doubt he is in school either.

DD (Y8) is at least getting a pretty full schedule of lessons online.

I think my younger DD will be ok. (Yr3).

Elder DD in Yr5, with additional needs... I'm not sure. I spend long periods helping her, but I'm not sure I'm explaining it all right. Maths is straightforward. But her English work... At school she gets small group literacy sessions. I've asked school for help, and just get told to not worry if she's finding it hard. But she wants to do it all.

We move soon. Hopefully their new school will be more proactive.

Yep, I’m really worried about my Reception kid. He doesn’t engage much with remote learning and definitely has no interest in being taught by us, and so is making no progress in the things he finds tricky.

My Y4 is ok but there’s no differentiation in the work he’s getting, we get English, Maths and one foundation subject a day and he can knock a lot of it over without breaking a sweat. So he’s not falling behind his peers - but it feels like the whole crowd must be falling behind, after spending most of Christmas term catching up on the first school closure.

DD is in year 1. She's very bright and doesn't struggle with the work set, I do wonder that if she was in school, she would be getting pushed more than we are able to. She will complete the work set (generally 1 English, 1 Maths and 1 topic work a day) but refuses to do anymore so my worry is that she won't reach her potential. I worry more about the social side, she is happy at home but I worry about forming friendships as this is a crucial time for doing that. A whole year of missed birthday parties and play dates and her whole school life so far has been disrupted.

I think my DD will be fine, she is in year 7. Not so sure about ds, in year 8 who has autism and has flatly refused to do any homeschooling or to go into school as one of a handful of ehcp and kw children. He will be waaaay behind. I'm just praying he goes in when school eventually opens... 😭

I feel the same as you, OP. My dc will be fine academically (reception and year 3) but I really worry about the social and emotional side. Dd1 is a natural extrovert and misses school and friends terribly. Dd2 is very shy and had just started to come out of her shell in reception. There has been very little focus on children "catching up" in terms of their social skills and emotional development but these are the aspects that concern me.

One of mine is fine and the other has missed masses of school die to SEN so a few tinsy bits of lockdown dont register.

No, not at the moment. They like and miss school but are doing ok at home. I wouldn't like this to go on for too many more weeks though.

Mine is bored because the work is generic and not tailored to ability like it would be in class.
Teacher told her if she didn't understand something just to miss it out. No use because she needs to know what to do but some things have been incoherent.

Yes, I am quite worried for them. They are years 12,10,8 and 3. My year 3 is doing well and I am sure will be fine academically (if not socially) but the older 3 are in a much worse situation. Dd1 (YR8) is struggling but at least has time to catch up. Ds1 has had the most disruption with the gcses last year and now the start of A levels. Who knows what will happen with next years gcses especially with so much disruption.

The provision from both schools is actually quite good but our home set up is not ideal, We have little space here and the kids are sharing a laptop and using phones for work which is not ideal.

Fortunately both dp and I are in secure jobs and I can at least sort out another laptop over half term.

DS is in yr 1. His school work is mostly handwriting, maths, English, PE and another subject per day. He’s bright so will be fine but he misses his friends and has begun to withdraw a bit. He’s excited about seeing his mates on the weekly class zoom and we go and wave at his friends houses (they are inside we are outside and vice versa) but it’s not the same. Missed play dates, learning to swim, building friendships, birthday parties etc. I know it’s small fry but I do feel for him. I loved being a kid and he’s missing lots of important social situations.

I think they'll be fine (year6+8)
School are providing good online provision and they're the sort who just get on with it. They seem to be learning stuff, I'm thinking that they'll be no more disadvantaged than anyone else.

I do think when you're in the throes of the education treadmill it becomes all encompassing. But when you step off you can see things more clearly.

Education happens at any age. My DD now 19 has missed 5 years of education due to illness. She's got 3 GCSEs which she did at home over 3 years, one per year. She'll still get to university one day if that's where she wants to go. It does give us a sense of perspective with DS who's in Y11 and whose education last year and this year has been very disruptive. But eventually it'll level itself out.

DS's already has. His GCSE results were not as expected and he's gone into Year 12 at a much lower starting point than he would normally have done (no GCSE revision, plus 6 months off study).

I can't see there will be much long lasting impact on primary school childen.

I have one in y13 and one in y10.
The one in y13 should be fine as her A-level subjects are "nice to have" rather than "must have" for he degree so the missed material won't ruin her education.
My y10 is a worry. The GCSE syllabus should have been trimmed for his year so they have a chance of completing it. Practical GCSEs in particular can't be taught remotely so I'm keen that he goes back to that as soon as possible.

Y12s are probably the most affected. Their GCSEs were CAGs and I wouldn't be surprised if their A-level grades are questionable too.

It's probably the wrong thread to mention it but the expectation on parents to teach the full curriculum has been far greater than in the first lockdown. I think to be honest it's nothing short of cruel. It's pushed me to the edge mentally, and a lot of people will feel the same, this lockdown is so much harder than the first one.

I'm a single parent working from home. How the fuck can I teach two children of different ages, whilst working? Logging in to various zoom meetings for them whilst I'm trying to have work meetings myself. It's completely unrealistic and the way it has been pushed will only increase the gap between the key worker children who could attend school, the ones who are perhaps only children of SAHMs, and the ones in my position. If the amount of work set felt achievable then i think outcomes would be better for all.

Honestly? No. My Y3 was above age expectations in T3 of Y2...he hasn't been engaging much with school learning which is tedious and not engaging but he's bright and can read well. I was worried about my summer born Y1, he only just learned to read before Christmas but is flying now and seems really confident at home with the reading apps - he's reading loads with them and enjoys writing. I also experienced a really poor primary and was far behind when I started secondary - it did affect me but I think I'd say the equivalent of a grade or two and it never held me back. That's not to say it hasn't been a nightmare, in terms of engagement with school, the breakdown of our school community and the children's trust in their teachers I think there's some irreparable damage there. The school need to have their act together to sort this out - as far as I can see they've largely ignored the issue of the children they can't see. They can't ignore them long term. There will be some real emotional damage.
I worry far more for the families without the resources, the ones who have fallen apart or quit jobs so I think it is a very urgent issue but some children more than others.

Definitely. Year 10. Should be a big year for social development but there's been no socialisation since March 2020 😡
Academically a disaster. Months lost in first lockdown and most of Sept- December lost due to 2 week periods of isolation.

A mix.

DD1 is in Year 13. She is getting excellent provision and we have good facilities at home. But her subjects are Performance Arts mostly so she is missing out in terms of interaction and, well, actually rehearsing and performing

DD2 is in Year 9. She is extremely weak in Maths and isn't coping with the online learning in that. I can't fault the school. They have live lessons and break out rooms for support. But DD is frustrated and disengaged. She is theatre and dance obsessed (she's at a vocational school) and will not give her academic subjects equal time. I'm at work all day so can't help focus her.

DD3 is in Year 2 and absolutely fine. She's at school and they have live lessons zoomed into the room. So far she appears to be far more academically able than my other two and is well ahead for her age.