Give us coronavirus data

Over the past few months, parents across the country have shared upsetting stories of young children being shouted at and verbally abused by the general public for things like accompanying their parents to the shops. Children have been pulled away from other children in the park, denied entrance to supermarkets and libraries, and parents have been called ‘immoral’ for wanting local playgroups to open when restrictions have eased.

These harrowing encounters are a serious side effect of unclear guidance throughout the pandemic – and could have been avoided. People are understandably confused and anxious about the rules and the risks posed by young children. In one breath, the Government has set out lockdown rules that prohibit children from interacting with people outside their household, and in another, they have asked many early years settings to remain open, where it is almost impossible to practise social distancing with such young children.

Children aged birth to five are at a critical stage in their development. This age range are extremely vulnerable to the short- and long-term consequences of the crisis, following a year of lockdowns and disrupted learning. Very few people would deny the far-reaching public health impact of Covid. However, we need to give much more attention to how this is, and will, affect the youngest generation, both in the immediate future and in the years to come.

Findings from Montessori Centre International’s recent research show that nursery practitioners are concerned about the effect of the pandemic on children’s social skills (91 per cent), personal and emotional development (95 per cent), and mental health (86 per cent). And an anonymous survey of almost 650 parents of children aged birth to five, conducted by UsforThem, a community of more than 25,000 parents, revealed 60 per cent are more concerned about their child’s development now than at the start of the pandemic.

We have united with UsforThem to call for the Government to make public data on the transmission rates within the birth to five age group, and between this group and adults, available. Any guidance and legislation should be consistent with the data on transmission and be communicated clearly to the public so that, together, we can make informed choices that protect our children and their futures.