CYP Now - Covid-19 impact on vulnerable children: key messages from education committee hearing

The UK could face “losing a generation of young people” to poverty and poor mental health following the coronavirus crisis, the education select committee has heard.

The committee heard evidence on the impact of Covid-19 on vulnerable children. Picture: Education select committee

Giving evidence on the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable children, Javed Khan, chief executive of charity Barnardo’s, warned systems may not be in place to tackle the “substantial” effects on disadvantaged young people.

Khan was joined by Jenny Coles, president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, to answer questions from 11 cross-party MPs on their experience of the impact of Covid-19 on the sector.

Here are three key issues discussed during the session:

Children’s services could face ‘surge’ in demand

Coles warned that the overall impact of Covid-19 on children’s services will only become clear “over a long period of time in terms of educational outcomes, mental health and emotional health”.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included