A teachers union has raised concerns over the impact the delay in reopening primary schools may have on children.
The decision has left the NASUWT teachers’ union worried about the mental and educational effects on children.
One of the central concerns highlighted by the union is the impact on vulnerable children, some children in the district may have struggled over lockdown to maintain homeschooling so could be more at risk of needing to catch up once schools re-open.
The government plan would have allowed for all primary school pupils to return to school for a month before the end of the summer term. This delay is re-opening has increased the concerns for the educational and mental health impact of this decision.
Sharon Calvert is the Harrogate representative for the NASUWT Teachers’ Union. She raised her concerns about the effect on children of delaying the opening:
“The impact on children’s education will be immense and many changes will have to be made. The curriculum will have to be adapted, exams looked at and there will need to be the facilities for students to access mental health specialists. There may be students who have witnessed domestic abuse during lockdown who will need support and possibly students who have literally been malnourished – we forget that there is poverty in Harrogate.“Teachers in the Harrogate want to get back to teaching their students but in a safe environment that poses no danger to their students, their selves or their families. It will be challenging for all teachers as they will have to assess students and differentiate accordingly. It may be that extra teachers/support staff will need to be employed for several months to enable students to catch up.”
- It will be a while until classrooms are full again, but teaching staff are preparing for pupils to enjoy a safe return in September.
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A gap in education could be felt by all children once they return to their school environment. Parents in the district also worry about the impact this delay could have on their children.
Laura Walters’s son is eight years old and attends Pannal Primary School in Harrogate. She said:
“I’m worried about the effect that it will have on our child’s mental health especially for children with SEN as the social aspect of school is crucial for some children. Homeschooling is definitely no replacement for being at school, I hope that the curriculum will reflect the large chunk of time missing from their educations.”
Amy Ball’s son is seven years old and also attends Pannal Primary School. She said:
“I’m frustrated that it was ever even mentioned by the government as a possibility. Realistically schools could never have more classes in 15-child bubbles based on space alone. More classes could only have been able to go back if the overall restrictions were hugely lifted. I’m mostly stressed about the detrimental effect 6 months away from education (and perhaps more importantly, peers) will have on the mental health of my child.”
