'Harmful' Covid school closures must never happen again, watchdog warns

21 September 2021, 06:49 | Updated: 21 September 2021, 06:57

The watchdog made the warning after almost two years of disruption to education
The watchdog made the warning after almost two years of disruption to education. Picture: Alamy
EJ Ward

By EJ Ward

England's Children's Commission has warned schools must never close again if Covid numbers spiral out of control.

Admitting closing schools during the first lockdown was the correct move Dame Rachel de Souza said now she never wanted to see children removed from education again.

“I never want to see schools closed again. It’s really important. The harms done of losing education are immense.”

England’s Children’s Commissioner told how her Big Ask survey of childrens’ views found that "children like school" and "realised how sitting in front of the computer is no proxy for being with a teacher."

She warned the new Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi that the "harms done of losing education are immense," and that schools must never close should there be a future lockdown.

Could schools close again? Nick Ferrari asks Education minister

“A young lad told me how he wasn’t seeing his friends, he wasn’t at school, he felt absolutely terrible. He was bewildered, didn’t know what to do.”

“I remember a girl in Gateshead, Year Seven, who was really upset, telling me, ‘I’m scared, I don’t know how to make friends. I’m not sure how to any more’.”

Dame Rachel called for a comprehensive catch-up package for schools, an urgent focus on improved services to children struggling with attendance and consequences of the pandemic, and a voluntary fully-funded third session in the school day for catch up support and activities.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Island nations which are vulnerable to climate change and some African countries have stormed out of COP29 in a row over funding.

Negotiators from climate-vulnerable nations walk out of COP29 in row over funding deals

Putin has said he will fire more of Russia 's new hypersonic missiles at targets in Ukraine

Kremlin warns 'a collision between the nuclear powers' is imminent as West fires missiles into Russia

Coleen Rooney on I'm A Celeb

'Wagatha Christie strikes again': Coleen Rooney uncovers I'm A Celeb secret as she calls out campmates

Chloe Barlow is one of the small business owners who will be affected by the change

'It's a mess': Small businesses hit out at EU red tape set to cost thousands, and say 'government has been no help'

Foreign tourists ride on boat in a river in Vang Vieng

Laos government 'saddened' by deaths of tourists in Vang Vieng which include South London woman

Leading brands are dumping Captain Tom Moore’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore

Top brands distance themselves from Captain Tom’s daughter after she cashed in on her father's legacy

Euston station has reopened

Euston station reopens after bomb squad carry out 'controlled explosion'

At least 11 people have been killed and more than 60 injured, Lebanon's health ministry has stated

Huge Israeli air strikes hit residential building in central Beirut, killing at least 11 people

Homebase was waiting on around £5 million of tax rebates before collapsing into administration

Full list of Homebase stores up for sale after chain collapses into administration

Live
Storm Bert has hit the UK

Live: Three dead as Storm Bert claims first victims as two die in car crashed and another is crushed by tree

The late Queen and Donald Trump

Queen Elizabeth found Donald Trump to be 'ignorant and hurtful' after Princess Margaret remark

Storm Bert has begun to make an impact with snow closing roads

Trains, planes and roads in chaos as Storm Bert sweeps UK with 82 mph winds and heavy snow

The Princess of Wales during a visit to Southport Community Centre

Princess Kate invites Southport stabbing survivors to Christmas carol concert after meeting them last month

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown walks through Downing Street to attend the annual National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph

Gordon Brown says he will not support assisted dying bill

Labour will reportedly 'set out plans' to boost military spending

Keir Starmer will 'set out a plan to raise defence spending to 2.5% by Spring' as tensions with Russia rise

King Charles III And Queen Camilla

King Charles 'planning tour of India' in latest health boost following cancer treatment