The impact of the pandemic on children and young people has been significant and far-reaching.

Ofsted reported that children hardest hit by school closures and restrictions have regressed in some basic skills and learning. Whilst a survey conducted earlier this year by Young Minds revealed that many young people are anxious the pandemic will have a long term negative effect on their mental health.

Although concerns are widespread, the impact of the pandemic has not been the same for all children. Nationally, professionals have reported apprehension about the impact of the virus on the lives of children who were already vulnerable. Additionally, children in Greater Manchester and the North West have been further impacted by higher rates of coronavirus, leading to increased periods of missed education as children have been required to self-isolate. 

The Government support package for children and young people has been widely criticized, with the Government appointed UK Education Tsar resigning over the lack of sufficient catch- up funding, stating on his resignation that  “without a comprehensive and urgent response”, the Government “risk failing hundreds of thousands of pupils”.

This Council is proud of the hard work and dedication of our Social Workers, teachers and all those working in services that support children and young people in Trafford. The Council will continue to provide a high level of support to children, young people and their families but also calls upon the Government to provide a properly funded, comprehensive package of support that will meet the needs of those impacted by the pandemic.

The Council welcomes the measures announced by the Shadow Education Secretary, Kate Green MP as part of the Labour’s Children’s Recovery Plan.

The Council calls upon the Government to implement the measures below, as outlined in the plan;

·         Breakfast clubs and new activities for every child: from breakfast clubs to sport, drama, book clubs and debating societies, a fully funded expanded range of extracurricular clubs and activities to boost time for children to play and socialise after months away from their friends;

·         Quality mental health support in every school: give every child the support they need to transition back to school and manage personal challenges, with access to qualified in-school counselling staff alongside boosting wellbeing through extra activities;

·         Small group tutoring for all who need it, not just 1%: make small group teaching available to all children who need it not just 1%, by reforming the Government’s failing tutoring programme to make sure no child falls behind because of pandemic disruption;

·         Continued development for teachers: Teachers have had one of the toughest years of their careers – it is only by supporting them with training to stay on top of the latest knowledge and techniques that we can give every child a brilliant classroom experience;

·         An Education Recovery Premium: support every child to reach their potential by investing in children who have faced the greatest disruption during the pandemic.

It was moved and seconded that:

“The impact of the pandemic on children and young people has been significant and far-reaching.

Ofsted reported that children hardest hit by school closures and restrictions have regressed in some basic skills and learning. Whilst a survey conducted earlier this year by Young Minds revealed that many young people are anxious the pandemic will have a long term negative effect on their mental health.

Although concerns are widespread, the impact of the pandemic has not been the same for all children. Nationally, professionals have reported apprehension about the impact of the virus on the lives of children who were already vulnerable. Additionally, children in Greater Manchester and the North West have been further impacted by higher rates of coronavirus, leading to increased periods of missed education as children have been required to self-isolate. 

The Government support package for children and young people has been widely criticized, with the Government appointed UK Education Tsar resigning over the lack of sufficient catch- up funding, stating on his resignation that  “without a comprehensive and urgent response”, the Government “risk failing hundreds of thousands of pupils”.

This Council is proud of the hard work and dedication of our Social Workers, teachers and all those working in services that support children and young people in Trafford. The Council will continue to provide a high level of support to children, young people and their families but also calls upon the Government to provide a properly funded, comprehensive package of support that will meet the needs of those impacted by the pandemic.

The Council welcomes the measures announced by the Shadow Education Secretary, Kate Green MP as part of the Labour’s Children’s Recovery Plan.

The Council calls upon the Government to implement the measures below, as outlined in the plan;

·       Breakfast clubs and new activities for every child: from breakfast clubs to sport, drama, book clubs and debating societies, a fully funded expanded range of extracurricular clubs and activities to boost time for children to play and socialise after months away from their friends;

·       Quality mental health support in every school: give every child the support they need to transition back to school and manage personal challenges, with access to qualified in-school counselling staff alongside boosting wellbeing through extra activities;

·       Small group tutoring for all who need it, not just 1%: make small group teaching available to all children who need it not just 1%, by reforming the Government’s failing tutoring programme to make sure no child falls behind because of pandemic disruption;

·       Continued development for teachers: Teachers have had one of the toughest years of their careers – it is only by supporting them with training to stay on top of the latest knowledge and techniques that we can give every child a brilliant classroom experience;

·       An Education Recovery Premium: support every child to reach their potential by investing in children who have faced the greatest disruption during the pandemic.”

Following a debate on the matter, the Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

RESOLVED: That the impact of the pandemic on children and young people has been significant and far-reaching.

Ofsted reported that children hardest hit by school closures and restrictions have regressed in some basic skills and learning. Whilst a survey conducted earlier this year by Young Minds revealed that many young people are anxious the pandemic will have a long term negative effect on their mental health.

Although concerns are widespread, the impact of the pandemic has not been the same for all children. Nationally, professionals have reported apprehension about the impact of the virus on the lives of children who were already vulnerable. Additionally, children in Greater Manchester and the North West have been further impacted by higher rates of coronavirus, leading to increased periods of missed education as children have been required to self-isolate. 

The Government support package for children and young people has been widely criticized, with the Government appointed UK Education Tsar resigning over the lack of sufficient catch- up funding, stating on his resignation that  “without a comprehensive and urgent response”, the Government “risk failing hundreds of thousands of pupils”.

This Council is proud of the hard work and dedication of our Social Workers, teachers and all those working in services that support children and young people in Trafford. The Council will continue to provide a high level of support to children, young people and their families but also calls upon the Government to provide a properly funded, comprehensive package of support that will meet the needs of those impacted by the pandemic.

The Council welcomes the measures announced by the Shadow Education Secretary, Kate Green MP as part of the Labour’s Children’s Recovery Plan.

The Council calls upon the Government to implement the measures below, as outlined in the plan;

·       Breakfast clubs and new activities for every child: from breakfast clubs to sport, drama, book clubs and debating societies, a fully funded expanded range of extracurricular clubs and activities to boost time for children to play and socialise after months away from their friends;

·       Quality mental health support in every school: give every child the support they need to transition back to school and manage personal challenges, with access to qualified in-school counselling staff alongside boosting wellbeing through extra activities;

·       Small group tutoring for all who need it, not just 1%: make small group teaching available to all children who need it not just 1%, by reforming the Government’s failing tutoring programme to make sure no child falls behind because of pandemic disruption;

·       Continued development for teachers: Teachers have had one of the toughest years of their careers – it is only by supporting them with training to stay on top of the latest knowledge and techniques that we can give every child a brilliant classroom experience;

·       An Education Recovery Premium: support every child to reach their potential by investing in children who have faced the greatest disruption during the pandemic.