Category Archives: COVID-19

Many pupils struggled with learning during COVID-19 lockdown

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I was shocked to read that, according to a poll conducted by the Office for National Statistics, 52% of parents thought their child had struggled to continue learning during the lockdown, and 77% said that the main reason was a lack of motivation. A staggering 43% also put the blame for their child’s poor academic progress on the lack of guidance and support from schools!

I realise that these were exceptional circumstances, and the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting worldwide lockdown hit us all like a ton of bricks. But some schools managed fantastically well and their students did not experience that many adverse effects. So why did some children fare so badly?

Sadly, 64% of those in the 16-18-year bracket felt that continuing their education at home would negatively affect their future plans. Even more frightening is the effect homeschooling had on people’s wellbeing. Around 34% of women said it negatively affected their own wellbeing and 43% of parents thought homeschooling negatively affected the wellbeing of their children. Also, many parents who were in employment stated that homeschooling negatively affected their job.

When we stop to think about it, school is a relatively new phenomenon. Before schools, children were taught at home, either by parents or tutors (if they had the money) or they were sent away to study under somebody capable of training their children. Teaching our children should be a wonderful and rewarding experience, but the reality is very different. I think much of this is because parents have so many demands on their time. How can a mother or father successfully plan, draft, teach, mark and motivate their children’s schoolwork when they have very little time. Most households have two parents working – and if they are not working full time they are working part time.

I think the government should have paid a daily allowance to parents of children over a certain age – say 5 years – to encourage them to stay at home to teach their children. We had financial support for staff on furlough, support for the self-employed, business loans, tax reprieves etc – so why not financially support those trying to teach the next generation?

The Effect of COVID-19 on Young People

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The coronavirus has had a devastating effect on education – from schools closed, to end-of-term tests postponed, to exams cancelled. The impact of the lock down has caused many in the education sector to voice concerns over the overall consequences of the pandemic on young people.

We currently live in a technology driven world, and some young people already experience the social isolation associated with an over-reliance on the internet and mobile devices. It is becoming evident that the increased seclusion caused by the lock down has put the mental health of many young people at risk. While we do not fully understand the damaging long-term consequences of the lock down and the lack of physical contact among young people, medical professionals are already reporting a rise in mental health problems such as anxiety, fear, loneliness and depression as a result of school closures during the pandemic.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people worldwide, and it is therefore vital that we all take responsibility for caring for those around us at this difficult time. Many young people have experienced serious illness or losses connected to COVID-19 and they may need extra support and attention. In order to provide support to schools, All Resources has produced a resource pack that examines COVID-19 through a number of subjects in an honest and practical way. “After COVID-19 – Returning to Education after the Coronavirus” uses the coronavirus as a catalyst to introduce different topics and young people are encouraged to discuss their fears and concerns and recognise the impact of COVID-19 via different viewpoints and settings. It comes as a main resource pack with 8 topics including lesson plans and worksheets, or as a series of one-off lesson plans, each one covering a different subject. This a great way of ensuring all young people have the opportunity to talk about their experiences, fears and concerns in an open and supportive environment.