Covid inquiry turns attention to pandemic’s impact on children
Joe Lepper
Thursday, May 23, 2024
The Covid-19 inquiry is to turn its attention to the pandemic’s impact on children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The inquiry’s eighth investigation will focus on how children and young people have been affected by the pandemic, policies made by government and the catastrophe's long-term impact on their lives.
Access to education, early years, and health support for children during the pandemic will be examined.
Covid-19’s impact on children’s contact with social workers will also be looked at.
“This will include children at risk, children whose families receive support from social services, young carers, those in the care of local authorities and care leavers,” according to the investigation’s provisional scope.
“The pandemic affected children and young people in many different ways; they lost loved ones, academic opportunities, years of social development and interaction with family and friends,” said inquiry chair Baroness Hallett.
She added that it “will make sure that the inquiry hears from a wide range of those children and young people” through its Children and Young People Voices project.
This is collecting stories from hundreds of young people, including those with SEND and in care. However, last year more than 40 children’s charities raised concerns around delays in gathering the views of children.
The views of parents, carers, teachers, and other children’s professionals will also feed into the inquiry’s investigation.
Other areas being looked at include the pandemic’s impact on children and young people’s access to the internet and social media.
Children’s contact with the immigration system is included, as is the impact of the pandemic on young people in the criminal justice system, or with parents in prison at the time.
The inquiry has set a deadline of 17 June for those wanting to apply to take part in the investigation.
Further investigations announced this week for 2024 include a look at the economic response to the pandemic and how it has impacted people, including children’s, mental health.
