Secondary schools across the country are being forced to give new Year 7 age groups extra attention, as their reading level has not advanced past that expected of six-year-old children.
In what education bodies have dubbed a “crisis”, teachers have become concerned at the large number of 11-year-olds whose reading age is almost half what is expected of them – and Covid is being blamed for these delays.
Schools have faced consistent disruption throughout the pandemic, seeing changes to virtual teaching, whole closures, reduced group sizes when in classrooms and chronic staff shortages.
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Experts in the education field have now attributed the regression in educational levels partly due to coronavirus over the last two years, but also to how technology is consumed by young people.
According to the Express, they blame the skyrocketing screen time children are exposed to each day, and the distraction this has proved from traditional educational activities, such as reading books.
Secondary school teachers are now…
