Leeds Children's Commissioner calls for schools to open 'as soon as possible' due to mental health

Anne Longfield has said families need “hope and clarity” about what will come next for children’s education.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that schools should open “as soon as possible” and called on ministers to set out at Downing Street press conferences what progress is being made towards reopening.

Ms Longfield warned that the closure of schools has had an “enormous impact” on children – affecting their mental health and widening the gap in learning.

“Children are more withdrawn, they are really suffering in terms of isolation, their confidence levels are falling, and for some there are serious issues.”

She added: “This is something for which families around the country will need hope and clarity about what comes next, and that of course is what the speculation we’re hearing really feeds into – that confusion – but also worry about where they as a family go from here.”

The Commissioner's comments come after Leeds parents shared their concerns over schools possibly being shut past Easter.

One parent said the proposal risked 'destroying a generation' amid calls for pupils to repeat the school year.

But Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said opening schools too early could risk increasing infection rates, which appears to fly in the face of assurances when schools were still open during lockdown.

He said: “I totally understand the frustrations of parents, I really thank teachers for what they’re doing, the immense efforts they’re going to to teach kids online and the Government has provided a lot of laptops … I know that’s no substitute for direct face-to-face learning.

“Believe me, there’s nothing I want to do more than reopen schools, I’ve fought to keep schools open for as long as I possibly could.

“We want to see schools back as fast as possible, we want to do that in a way that is consistent with fighting the epidemic and keeping the infection rate down.”

Mr Johnson’s comments came as he faced pressure from senior Tories to allow pupils to return to class.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is widely expected to confirm this week that there will be no return to the classroom after the February half-term break as ministers had hoped.

Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the Commons Education Committee, called for action to get pupils back in classes amid mounting Tory unrest about the Government’s exit strategy from coronavirus restrictions.