Post-Pandemic Surge in Language and Emotional Delays in UK Schools
A report published by Ofsted revealed that schools in England are facing significant challenges in dealing with the impact of the pandemic on children in primary schools. The report highlights delays in language and communication skills, poor self-care abilities, and emotional difficulties among children starting at the nursery level. It also emphasized the negative impact of the pandemic on children’s behavior and social skills.
The report points out that support has become even more critical for disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs. It also warns that teachers paying more attention to confident children could negatively affect the development of students who need the most support. Another point mentioned in the report is that schools are assigning complex tasks to children without providing sufficient time to develop basic reading and writing skills. It draws attention to the lack of adequate education in schools on fundamental skills such as forming simple sentences and holding a pencil correctly. Ofsted’s Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver stressed the importance of children’s early school years for future learning and development, noting that schools struggling with the effects of the pandemic are trying to compensate for the learning many children have lost. James Bowen, Deputy General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), stated that many children missed out on crucial pre-school experiences due to Covid-19, and the lack of adequate investment in education recovery has made it difficult for these children to access the support they need.