As schools go back, it is an appropriate opportunity to reflect on the huge impact covid-19 continues to have on our city’s families and young people.
The pandemic has upturned life for us all and the routines on which many rely to manage family life.
A sudden shift to our working lives, coupled with the reality of keeping children at home for months on end, has been a massive challenge for many.
It’s also clear that the true impact of the pandemic may not yet be fully understood: many families will have had to navigate income loss, illness or bereavement and changes to the support upon which they rely.
Every young person has had to adjust to changes in their education, with national analysis emphasising what we feared most – that covid-19 hits the poorest families the hardest.
While in a recent council survey of our city’s young people, one in five respondents said that covid-19 had affected their mental health.
This is why last month we worked with young people to allocate over £130,000 in youth-led grants to support youth services over the next few months, with a particular focus on mental health and wellbeing.
Schools, educators, social workers and youth workers who support our young people across the city have risen to the challenge, providing support, resources and keeping a close eye.
Schools have been open for children of key workers and I want to take this opportunity again to thank everyone for their incredible commitment during this time.
In a damning indictment of the Conservative government’s approach to school funding, we must also be clear, however, that so much of the hard work by our schools and educators has been done despite hugely squeezed school and mental health budgets.
As schools reopen to all pupils this week, I remain acutely aware that the challenges are far from over.
Schools, colleges, nurseries and childminders across our city have worked hard to ensure effective infection control measures are in place to help reduce the risks posed by covid-19.
But the risks are still with us: and as our city continues to manage the pandemic, guidelines to combat the virus, including hand washing and social distancing, are more vital than ever.
What happens outside school is as important as what takes place inside so we must all double our efforts to prevent infection in the community which will help our whole city to recover.
Stressful
We stand with parents who are concerned that a return to school is by no means a “risk free” endeavour. An FAQ is available on the council’s website about the return to school.
