We must support vulnerable children to stop the inequality gap getting wider - the YEP says

Overcrowded homes, poorer health and ethnicity all play a role when it comes to such a stark social inequality.

And it is the parents of these youngsters who will need the greatest support when it comes to pupils going back to school in September.

Leeds-based education charity Shine today warns that those families should not be punished if they feel unsafe sending their children back to school.

Those at greater risk will need a combination of understanding and compassion.

Time to build and restore confidence is vital - and key to this are the schools and teachers who offer it.

The pandemic has truly focused the spotlight on the disparities surrounding educational outcomes.

This is an opportunity to reimagine education.

We must better meet the needs of those children to stop them slipping through the net - and confidence is crucial to this.

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