With evidence of a rise in mental health issues among many children because of the lockdown, Ms Longfield calls for local NHS mental health teams to work with schools to provide support.
She raises concerns that children in young offender institutions and secure training centres have been spending more than 20 hours a day in their cells, family visits have been banned, and face-to-face education has stopped. Ms Longfield also suggests that the government should hold a news conference aimed at children, giving them the chance to submit questions to press briefings, just as adults were in the previous daily briefings.Anne Longfield wants to see children at the heart of future planning"If a second wave occurs, children must be at the heart of coronavirus planning - that means schools must be the first to reopen and the last to close during any local lockdowns.
"But the success of September's return to school rests as much on what happens outside the school gates as within." Teresa Heritage, vice-chairwoman of the Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board, said councils would continue to work with all schools and local partners.Share this story
Why have they not opened already it's crazy. They should have cancelled the summer hols and gone back
Well would you expect England's Children Commissioner to say anything else.
Schools closed after the pubs and reopened before the pubs during the first wave. Stop teaching us to suck eggs.
Every time it was mentioned about opening schools, either the teachers or parents started bumping their gums. It’s not safe, how can we do this , how can we do that ? These are supposedly highly intelligent people. But struggle to discuss ideas or even try to impliment any
Always
This isn’t a competition between schools and pubs. The risk assessment for both has to be carried out on an objective basis, taking account of any necessary precautionary measures on SD, masks, etc. From now on, we all assess the risks for ourselves, while safeguarding others.
I wonder how much difference it will make - I see lots of children together in parks, sharing play equipment - Neighbours gardens have all had BBQs where the kids are together and I'm sure quite a number are mixing in houses.
BBCPolitics Can't believe this even has to be stated. This country is done out here.
no. My bar is important. I want ALCOHOL! NOWWWW
I always dropped the kids off before going down the pub
BBCPolitics Yes also close HOUSE OF COMMONS BARS. Set an example.
I really don’t understand why it’s one or the other; I don’t think I’m stupid however I don’t get it.
BBCPolitics Everything should be open. People need to work to survive. Lockdown was never a viable solution. It has led to financial ruin for an entire nation and will end up costing far more lives than it saved. Common sense must prevail.
So these parents sit in pubs etc all day taking their children with them. Well they must b wealthy with the prices of pub drinks. But parents say they hv no time to pub visit. This sounds grappling for a reason to get teachers back as school buildings r open.
And WHO pays for the schools? They're not free. Can't quite get my head around the connection of pub and schools either, wtaf are these people talking about? How is a pub stopping a child being educated?
Because kids are never vectors for illness, and their tiny lives don't matter 🙄 What should come first in future is an effective Government strategy that doesn't order everyone back to work as cases are rising!
Still not convinced why it’s either / or. Different demographics and impact around Covid 19. This will cause division.
if you get it wrong you'll get it right next time, hopefully.
While yes in the short term schools need to reopen for student welfare, in the longterm we need better education. Education not centered on the industrial revolution. Democratic education can aid in reforming. We cannot rely on the NHS, youth workers are needed. annelongfield
It’s a bit late love
BBCPolitics But what will Tim Martin Mr Wetherspoon say? I think the tories care more about the likes of him than they do killing people off ...
BBCPolitics Just listened to shadow secretary J Ashworth and it is obvious that if Labour was in Government they wouldn't know what they were doing. Couldn't say what they would do. instead just criticised everything! If you want votes step up, give ideas and solutions to get out of this!
BBCPolitics Actually a Government with a strategy would be most helpful... this lot don't know the meaning of the word and still don't have one.
BBCPolitics When you consider young children areleast likely to observe social distancing it does not make sense,if you are trying to avoid a pandemic, to put schools first. Surely children’s health and the health of the whole country comes before education,which will only be interrupted
Absolutely they must. We need to get children back in school.
I can’t see how it will work to have 30 kids in class, a teacher 2m away, unable to look at their work and restrictions on toilet use and break space. I think they are better doing part time with classes split to reduce risk and getting home learning sorted.
I agree but more care effort and thought needs to be put in to ensure the safety of pupils and staff.
The public thinks 1 positive case will close a school bubble. We have been told we need 2 cases to close it.
Absolutely. Adults have been mixing, socially distanced or not, for months. Children have not, especially primary age. The mental health of kids being and seeing kids is critical, as well as their educational skills and behaviour. Close everything but schools and NHS if you must.
School before pub, I haven’t had to make that decision since sixth form.
People are waking up to how the fake news media works. A throw away remark is being treated as a real trade off. Talk about it enough and people may be stupid enough to believe we can't have both schools and pubs open
They need more planning n more detailing cz kids won't give a 2 fucks about social distancing. This is not a comparison about what comes first. Whatever n whichever is less riskier should be opened first.. which in my opinion are the pubs, restaurants, cinemas.
There is going to be a huge problem with the mental health of children if they are kept away from other children and from school for much longer.
No reason schools can not open. There has been 0 cases of children that age passing on covid. Either get back to work, or take away that 'well deserved' pay rise courtesy of the struggling tax payer.
Horseshit I am afraid, no point teaching kids if there’s sod all economy left. The gov could set up summers schools and shorten holidays to make up for the loss in teaching time. It’s simple really.
Why? If parents care so much they should avoid, with their offspring, pubs and restaurants if thats what they want and think it will keep them safe.
No. No sadly they shouldn’t. A child’s education can be extended one year to make up for the loss. A business can’t ...
But the teachers spend all weekend in the pubs
Fuck off....pubs and restaurants provide more in jobs/money....school provide fuck all in this day and age with the number of temp teachers and useless education....can learn online safely...can't drink a pint online....virtual school will be the new thing
Of course..what a sad island to come to this conclusion
Sorry but schools don’t come before the economy. And I fail to see how the two things are linked anyway.
Keep the teachers out of pubs then?
Didn’t pubs reopen after schools broke up for summer?
Not in the middle of a deadly pandemic, they shouldn't!
No shit, Sherlock. Unfortunately, this government did, and will always do, put stuffing their pockets before serving the public.
Good health comes first
I don’t get what a pub has to do with schools
Bullshit. Children’s health should come before their education, and that includes looking after those who care for them.
You havent convinced us bbc. We have not accepted there is a trade off.