Commenting on a new report by the Local Government Association
(LGA) on education recovery, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of
school leaders’ union NAHT, said:
“As this report points out, the Coronavirus pandemic has had a
greater impact on some children than others. The challenge of
recovery is not an equal one.
“Disadvantage and attainment gaps existed before the pandemic,
and it is those children schools were most worried about before
that are in greatest need of support now. Covid has both
highlighted and exacerbated the huge problem of poverty and
inequality in our country.
“Children are returning to school needing not just academic help,
but a wide range of pastoral, mental health and wellbeing support
too.
“Unfortunately a simple return to ‘normal’ isn’t going to solve
things, and it isn’t going to be a quick job. It will take a
considerable long-term investment of time, money, energy and
resources, which the government must recognise and provide.
“And while education recovery can and must be led by education
experts, the issues that underpin inequality reach far beyond the
school gates and exist throughout the communities that schools
serve.
“Poverty and disadvantage, poor wellbeing, SEND, discrimination
and inequality are the fundamental issues creating disadvantage.
These must be addressed by government if we are to make a real
difference in the future.
“This will require the support of well-integrated and well-funded
services across the whole of a child’s life. Sadly, these
services have been seriously damaged by a decade of austerity.
“Schools cannot pick up the pieces alone. Inequality will remain
entrenched in the UK unless the government takes urgent action
and prioritises all the services needed to help those children
that most need it.”
