In October, I gave evidence to the Covid Public Inquiry, reflecting on the unprecedented lockdown and school closures, and the long shadow this period still casts over many childhoods.
Even before the pandemic, I was concerned about the lack of support for parents during a child’s early years, the high number of children not starting Reception ‘school ready’, the crisis in children’s mental health, the SEND lottery, and an education system that does not always serve well the most vulnerable children.
Covid has made these challenges even harder. Recently, a primary head teacher told me many of her pupils are starting Reception not toilet-trained, still wearing pull-up nappies. Some had dummies and arrived in pushchairs.
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