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New report on effect of pandemic on children's wellbeing

By agency reporter
October 11, 2020

The Department for Education's research report, State of the Nation 2020: children and young people’s wellbeing, was published on 10 October 2020, to mark World Mental Health Day. The report brings together a range of published data to help the Government, schools and colleges, public services and parents better understand children and young people’s experiences of the pandemic and the continued support that will be needed.

Responding to the report, The Children’s Society’s Policy and Research Manager, Richard Crellin, said: “It’s vital that the Government properly understands how children and young people have been affected by the pandemic, so that we can start to improve their lives. What this report tells us is that it is still too soon to know what the full impact of this global health crisis will be. But we do know that some children will be worse off than others: those with disabilities, those in BAME communities, those from families who are struggling financially, and those at risk of abuse and neglect.

“At The Children’s Society, we work with these children and young people all year round. We know that their well-being has been put at greater risk than ever before this year – but we also know what a difference the right support can make for them.

“This report is a welcome step, but there are still far too many gaps in our understanding about what has happened to our children. This highlights the need for comprehensive national measurement of children’s well-being, so that we can truly understand how children are feeling and how their lives have been affected by the pandemic. With the right data and information, government can invest wisely to build a brighter future for all our children – whatever their circumstances.”

* Read State of the Nation 2020: children and young people’s wellbeing here

* The Children's Society https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/

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