Children get one shot at an education. Countless studies have shown that just one day lost in the classroom can have a lasting, negative effect on young people’s ability to achieve their potential in life. And lockdowns have robbed our children of countless days of opportunity.
We have watched as the attainment gap between children in rich and poor families has widened, undermining the incredible work of the past decade. Remote learning has failed our children, too. For too many, the classroom was replaced during lockdown by a weekly email with links to BBC Bitesize exercises. The efficacy of such exercises depends on the expertise of teachers who use these materials to support their teaching. It is unrealistic to ask parents to replicate the expertise of teachers, let alone while trying to maintain full or part-time work.
We’ve also all heard stories that tear at our hearts: of too many children neglected and abused during lockdown. Worse still have been the horrors that have led to the deaths of young children. Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, knows full well these costs…
