New report: “What about the children? How the UK’s decision-makers considered children and young people during COVID-19 pandemic.”
The loss of learning, freedom and hope to children during the Covid-19 pandemic could have been prevented if political leaders had better considered their rights and views, new report concludes.
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, assesses the broad range of ways in which political leaders failed to sufficiently regard children’s needs during the pandemic.
Findings suggest outcomes for children would have been different if decision makers had heeded warnings on the negative effects of school closures by experts and avoided measures that marginalised children, from the reopening of pubs before schools to the design of social restrictions that had a disproportionate impact on the youngest.
The report has been released ahead of the Covid-19 Inquiry’s next session which will take evidence from key political figures in its Module 2 section that looks at decision making by the UK and devolved governments.
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 decisions were made with an assumption that all children were in happy and secure homes.
Three key recommendations to create a better environment for children and improve the structures around decision making in future, include:
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.
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."
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.”
CREC’s Prof. Chris Pascal and Prof. Tony Bertram are amongst those who have backed the report, they said “The case the report makes about the lack of consideration given to the experiences of children during the pandemic and even now, in the aftermath, and the consequences of this for their futures could not be stronger or more clearly made. We at CREC endorse the findings and support the recommendations of this report fully. Children are citizens with rights and these continue to be largely ignored in decision making – something which needs to change and change urgently. Young citizenship is listening to the youngest voices in our society and us ignoring them can only imperil our individual and collective future(s).”
The full list of children’s rights organisations and experts supporting it can be found below:
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 Cath Larkins, The Centre for Children and Young People's Participation, University of Central Lancashire
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