The loss of learning, freedom and hope to children during the Covid pandemic could have been prevented if political leaders had better considered their rights and views, leading children’s rights organisations have claimed today.
New report What about the children? released by Save the Children, the Children’s Rights Alliance for England and Just for Kids Law, and backed by former Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield, is an in-depth look into how political leaders failed to consider children and young people’s needs during the pandemic.
The report is being released ahead of the Covid-19 Inquiry’s next session which will take evidence from key political figures as part of its Module 2 section that looks at decision making by the UK and devolved governments.
Today six children and teenagers also speak out about their experiences of the pandemic in fresh testimony collected by Save the Children, with their accounts due to be handed to the Inquiry. They described their experience of lockdowns and then settling back into education between 2020 and 2022 as “the worst [time] of their life”, that bubbles stopped them having close contact with friends and the uncertainty about exams left them “on edge”.
It is now 11 months since the Inquiry began and there is still on time set for when children and young people can have their say on how lockdown changed their lives.
Dan Paskins, Director of UK Impact at Save the Children, said: “The UK’s pandemic policies harmed children and young people, and this report concludes the dramatic impact on their wellbeing was avoidable.
"While all children were impacted by the pandemic, those who were already having a tough time were most likely to be failed by government policies. Decision-makers had lots of tough choices to make, and this isn't about blaming individuals, yet the evidence is overwhelmingly clear that lessons need to be learned and better systems put in place to protect children in future crises."
Anne Longfield, former Children’s Commissioner and Chair of the Commission on Young Lives, who is backing the report said: “This report sets out in very stark terms how children were frequently at the back of the queue when the government made its biggest decisions about lockdown and reopening the economy. Three years on, and many children and families are paying the price for the mistakes that were made.
"So many of the long-term problems arising from Covid could have been alleviated, or even prevented altogether, had the interests of children been made a top priority by government. This must never happen again.”
The report explores the following themes: how the prolonged and unplanned closures of nurseries and schools disproportionately affected children in poverty; how social distancing guidelines which forgot to mention children and play affected their mental health; and how the assumption by policy-makers that all children were in happy and secure homes exposed children to increased harm and abuse.
Three key recommendations included in the report are:
- For the UK government to appoint a Cabinet Minister for Children and Young People, and make sure in times of crisis that they are involved in key decisions, so children’s interests are considered
- Pass a new law to make schools essential infrastructure so MPs have more oversight before schools can be closed
- Properly fund a Children’s Recovery Plan* to tackle the long-term effects on children’s social and emotional development and educational attainment caused by Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns
Louise King, Director of the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, part of Just for Kids Law said: “The evidence in our report clearly shows that children suffered during the pandemic because the UK Government failed to adequately consider their rights and interests.
“We need to see action now to mitigate the harm children have already suffered over the last few years, and permanent changes to make sure that mistakes aren’t repeated in the future - changes which place children at the heart of government decision-making.”
Emily, 15 from Devon, said: “Now when it comes to GCSEs I have huge gaps in all of my topics in all of my subjects and I feel like such an underdog.”
Talha, 19, from London, said: “I was sometimes on edge about never knowing when we would go back in person and knowing that we had these exams to do, and these exams would affect my university application.”
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Notes to editor:
* This report suggests the £13.5bn catch-up funding proposed by the Education Policy Institute is the correct amount to bring about meaningful change for children.
- Save the Children, the Children’s Rights Alliance for England and Just for Kids Law, are all core participants in the Covid Inquiry.
- Six case studies of teenagers (print and pictures) reflecting on the pandemic are available.
- The Every Story Matters platform as part of the Covid Inquiry can only take submissions from over 18s, however the Inquiry released a statement on September 7 to say they would embark on a targeted research project to hear from young people.
- Children’s rights organisations and experts which have backed the report What About The Children?
Professor Alison Clark, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, UCL London
Alliance for Youth Justice
Anne Longfield, former Children’s Commissioner and Chair of the Commission on Young Lives
Article 39
Buttle UK
Campaign for State Education
Carers Trust
Centre for Mental Health
Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education (CSIE)
Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition
Children North East
Professor Chris Pascal and Professor Tony Bertram, Directors, Centre for Research in Early Childhood
Coram Children’s Legal Centre
Disabled Children’s Partnership
Early Childhood Forum
The Fostering Network
Haringey Play Association
Professor Helen Lomax, School of Education, University of Huddersfield
The Howard League for Penal Reform
INQUEST
IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice)
Just Fair
The Kids Network
London Play
The Markfield Project
The Mighty Creatives
NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service)
No More Exclusions
North East Child Poverty Commission
Our Time
Playing Out
Power2
Refugee Education UK
Safer London
Special Needs Jungle
Together with Migrant Children
Together Trust
Us for Them
WBTi UK Steering Team
What About The Children?
Youth Access
Youth Focus North East