Schools: Coronavirus

(asked on 1st June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of school closures on children and young people’s (a) mental health and (b) academic attainment in the 2020-21 school year.


Answered by
Vicky Ford Portrait
Vicky Ford
This question was answered on 4th June 2020

The department is continuing to assess the impact of the potential effect of school closure on children and young people’s mental health and education attainment. We are working closely with educational institutions, sector organisations, the Department for Health and Social Care, NHS England and Public Health England to understand the risks to education attainment, mental health and wellbeing and identify the children and young people that need help.

The government remains committed to promoting and supporting the mental health of children and young people. Access to mental health support is more important than ever during the COVID-19 outbreak. NHS services remain open, leading mental health charities are being supported to deliver additional services through the £5 million Coronavirus Mental Health Response Fund. All NHS Mental Health Trusts have been asked to ensure there are 24/7 open access telephone lines to support people of all ages. Public Health England and Health Education England have developed advice and guidance for parents and professionals on supporting children and young people's mental health and wellbeing, which is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing.

Pupil wellbeing is an important consideration within our guidance on actions for educational and childcare settings as they begin to open in June 2020, which is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-educational-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020.

From the week commencing 1 June 2020, primary schools have been welcoming back children in nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside priority groups (vulnerable children and children of critical workers). From 15 June 2020, secondary schools will provide some face-to-face support for young people in year 10 and year 12. We want to get all children and young people back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their mental wellbeing to have social interactions with their peers, carers and teachers.

The department continues to work with the education sector on how best to make up for lost time with the phased return to schools for the 2020-21 school year.

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