Children in lockdown

But that isnt the picture elsewhere is it - attendance nationally has never picked up to the same levels pre covid and persistent absence is a very serious problem. I was a school governor too, I think the lockdowns were a mistake for children and for society in general.

Galaxy

But that isnt the picture elsewhere is it - attendance nationally has never picked up to the same levels pre covid and persistent absence is a very serious problem. I was a school governor too, I think the lockdowns were a mistake for children and for society in general.

I agree Galaxy for some children their lives and attitude to education and authority have changed, and not for the better.

I do not think they were a mistake - children were superspreaders, seldom getting seriously ill themselves, but risking the lives of older and more vulnerable people - and indeed of the teachers who would have to be in school with them. The safeguarding of everyone for those children of hospital and other workers who were in school was a real logistical problem.

One grandson, who had been a thorn in his teachers' flesh, became a model student during lock-down, completing all his assignments on line and sending them to astonished teachers. When he got back to school, he was on good terms with all of them and did well in GCSEs and A-levels. Lock-down seems to have suited loners. His brother spent most of his time with his gaming computer, but eventually emerged well-adjusted, is now in the lower sixth and plays tennis at a local club. The other teenage GCs had no noticeable ill-effects, though my DGD missed out on ceremonial experiences as company sergeant major of her county's Army Cadets. At least for these four teenage DGCs, lock-down has had no permanent ill-effects. It might have been very different had they been ten years younger.

Galaxy

But that isnt the picture elsewhere is it - attendance nationally has never picked up to the same levels pre covid and persistent absence is a very serious problem. I was a school governor too, I think the lockdowns were a mistake for children and for society in general.

I agree they were a mistake Galaxy.
I was teaching (Primary) in 2020, and it was particularly the Year 1s and Year 2s who suffered the most academically. The missed the basics in numeracy and literacy. They are coming up to secondary school age now, so it will be interesting to see how they fare and whether they can catch up.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I think the first lockdown was unavoidable, because given the evidence from Italy and elsewhere at that point, there was a risk of very high numbers of deaths, including of younger people.

Our DGS, now 10, didn’t suffer at all, but his poor parents did, both working from home and keeping him occupied and ensuring he did his school work.

My DD did still teach as schools didn’t close completely and were open for both vulnerable children and those with “key worker” parents.

Our own DS didn’t fare so well, he spent his 18th in lockdown, having to do college work from home and was reluctant to start socialising after lockdown ended.

As for babies born during lockdown, parents are primarily responsible for lack of progress and meeting milestones, just my opinion!

Cossy our two lockdown baby GC, are meeting all their educational targets, along with all their milestone ones.

What we did notice as did their parents, was when it was possible to go out to restaurants, play centres and holidays they were either totally withdrawn and overwhelmed or the total opposite bat shit crazy

It took a good year before they could settle in social situations.

Its not about hindsight for me - I agree that in particular with regard to the first lockdown that was the right decision at the time. Its not a question of blame - it is about looking at what happened and analysing the impact compared to the risk. That information helps us with future pandemics.

escaped

Galaxy

But that isnt the picture elsewhere is it - attendance nationally has never picked up to the same levels pre covid and persistent absence is a very serious problem. I was a school governor too, I think the lockdowns were a mistake for children and for society in general.

I agree they were a mistake Galaxy.
I was teaching (Primary) in 2020, and it was particularly the Year 1s and Year 2s who suffered the most academically. The missed the basics in numeracy and literacy. They are coming up to secondary school age now, so it will be interesting to see how they fare and whether they can catch up.

Those in Y7 and 8 suffered too, I think.
They had started at their new senior schools, all was new and in some cases quite daunting if they went from a small village school to a huge comprehensive. New friendship groups were being made and were disrupted by lockdowns. No out-of-school clubs or activities could take place.

No matter how careful parents were to ensure schoolwork was done, children were cared for (and sadly, not all were), this caused problems for many children, particularly those who were rather shy to begin with.
Such messages as staying away from grandparents and elderly relatives in case children gave them Covid made some children anxious, as did all the solemn news conferences on television.
The increase in CAHMS referrals reflects this.

Casdon

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I think the first lockdown was unavoidable, because given the evidence from Italy and elsewhere at that point, there was a risk of very high numbers of deaths, including of younger people.

I totally agree. Lockdowns were not done on a whim. They saved lives.

My DGS was born during lockdown 2, I don't think my DD had the best care from her Health care team during the her recovery of a C section but that may have been the case of it during normal times. My DGS is now 3 and very sociable, a little bit behind with some milestones but was found to have a minor blood complaint and is on medication and has come on in leaps and bounds.

For me all the lockdowns were essential, and too little too late.

Married to a doctor, who had long predicted this pandemic and been concerned about the lack of preparation, I have absolutely supported the lockdowns. So would he have done, but he died at the very start.

We need to be much better prepared for next time - which will assuredly come.

I am not greatly concerned about the academic progress of children, who are placed in school far too early and expected to achieve targets that do not chime with the nature of children and childhood.

They will progress a their own pace with the help of the teachers in whom I have great faith - they all work so hard. How wonderful it would be if they could get on with their jobs without the data collection and targets which hamper teaching and sap morale.

Galaxy

But that isnt the picture elsewhere is it - attendance nationally has never picked up to the same levels pre covid and persistent absence is a very serious problem. I was a school governor too, I think the lockdowns were a mistake for children and for society in general.

I agree about absenteeism and about the rise in home schooling, which works extremely well for many children, but which also allows some to “disappear” and fall through the cracks.

Luckygirl3

For me all the lockdowns were essential, and too little too late.

Married to a doctor, who had long predicted this pandemic and been concerned about the lack of preparation, I have absolutely supported the lockdowns. So would he have done, but he died at the very start.

We need to be much better prepared for next time - which will assuredly come.

I am not greatly concerned about the academic progress of children, who are placed in school far too early and expected to achieve targets that do not chime with the nature of children and childhood.

They will progress a their own pace with the help of the teachers in whom I have great faith - they all work so hard. How wonderful it would be if they could get on with their jobs without the data collection and targets which hamper teaching and sap morale.

👏👏👏👏

GrannyGravy13

Cossy our two lockdown baby GC, are meeting all their educational targets, along with all their milestone ones.

What we did notice as did their parents, was when it was possible to go out to restaurants, play centres and holidays they were either totally withdrawn and overwhelmed or the total opposite bat shit crazy

It took a good year before they could settle in social situations.

I agree on the social side and suddenly being faced with huge crowds etc that they’d never encountered,

It's the psychological impact lockdowns had on children, more the older ones rather than babies and toddlers who would have known no different than to be at home with parent(s).

The fact that children are expected to reach targets and many did not because of lockdowns is an interesting point, as allowances were only made for those taking GCSEs and A levels during thst time. Younger pupils have had no allowances made but are still supposed to reach those targets.

My 2 daughters were both working from home. The youngest two aged 6 had three Teams lessons daily. Two in the morning and one in the afternoon, instructions to use Joe Wicks daily for exercise. I was there in the bubble sitting with them through classes, encouraging them, making sure homework was done. There were few difficulties going back to school. The school sent copies of all the daily lessons with work sheets. They were well organised.

The Academy my older grandchildren went to didn’t do so well. My oldest grandson didn’t do so well in his A levels but is currently at University. Youngest grandson grudgingly did his school work but older sister loved being off school, organised all her school work, worked hard and had a huge amount of free time which she spent going to the gym.

Lock down imo, was differently received by children, dependent on their character, parental guidance and engagement and most importantly what school asked their children to do. The interaction between the children, their school and parents underpinned the experience.

My youngest grandchildren are fortunate their parents selected that particular school. Last inspection in 2014 received an Outstanding mark. They received Outstanding last month as well.

Younger pupils have had no allowances made but are still supposed to reach those targets.
Exactly this. Younger children need help and guidance in their learning. Stuff has to be explained over and over. They need encouragement. As we have seen on recent threads on GN, many younger children fell through the net getting their problems recognised or diagnosed, and are now struggling.
By 15 or 16+ children are usually more than capable of studying on their own and should know what is expected.
That's not to say I think the National Curriculum KS1 and KS2 is totally fit for purpose or ideal from a teacher's perspective, it isn’t. But that's a separate issue.

We were lucky in that my GS was able to continue attending nursery right through lockdown. I think I'd have gone mad if I'd had to be stuck at home with him all day every day.

My eight are all doing well.
I really felt for my daughter though who had a 10 month old and could have done with the company of other mums.
I think it impacted her most.

How long were schools actually closed for? I remember schools closing in March, then it was Easter holidays,in May there was half term in May. Some year groups back in June. Schools opened in September. I know they closed again in January but were they open from September to December? They opened again in March 2021.

I know some areas were hit harder but jn all honesty one of mine missed more school than that due to surgery and he couldn't keep up with school work as his surgery was on his eyes. He was just expected to fit back in and catch up.

I've read things like schools closed in March 2020 and didn't reopen for six months. Well some years they opened sooner than that and they weren't closed for six months due to lockdown as that time included Easter, half term and summer holidays so almost half of that six months they wouldn't have been in school anyway.

I'm not sure if this is being exaggerated.

I'm not sure if this is being exaggerated
The Covid Enquiry should establish that.

CAHMS referrals went up up by 53%
Non-authorised school absences increased.
Incidences in child abuse were reported.

It cannot be coincidental.

My DD is a primary teacher and prepared lessons online for her class. Sadly many of the children didn't bother submitting homework and fell behind.
The one thing I will never forget is my DGC visiting and being afraid to enter the house. She stood in the doorway after being told to stay in the garden. I invited her in and with a look of pure terror on her face she said
"I can't come in granny. If I come inside I could kill you and you will die"
At 6 yrs old all her innocence was gone. She wasn't the happy, carefree child anymore.
Awful what we did to our children.

Allira

^I'm not sure if this is being exaggerated^
The Covid Enquiry should establish that.

CAHMS referrals went up up by 53%
Non-authorised school absences increased.
Incidences in child abuse were reported.

It cannot be coincidental.

I'm not saying no child had issues but from the small example on here it is clear many children were fine, some actually seemed to flourish.

The perpetrators are responsible for child abuse. Parents are responsible for getting their children to school.

My worry is that if we keep telling a generation that to their childhood/education/mental health have been ruined it will become a self fulfilling prophecy. No one suggested my son that missing months of school while undergoing painful surgery was anything other than a blip. Who knows what the effects would have been if people kept suggesting it was a catastrophe.