The Telegraph has been running a campaign calling on ministers to put children first as the country recovers from its Covid lockdowns.
It comes after a group of MPs, led by Robert Halfon, the chairman of the Commons education select committee, called for the closure of schools to form a “significant part” of the Covid Inquiry.
In a letter sent to Baroness Hallett, the MPs also asked for the impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health and on their “life chances” to be considered.
Anna Edmundson, head of policy and public affairs at the NSPCC, added: “The lockdowns left some vulnerable children and young people trapped in violent homes with little means of escape from the increased threat of domestic, physical and sexual abuse.
“It is vital the difficulties, hardship and suffering faced by the younger generation over the past couple of years are fully examined and reflected upon in the Covid Inquiry, with the learnings that come out of it being used by Government to help those in need now and to ensure we are better prepared in the future.”
‘Children an afterthought’
Helen Hayes MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Children and Early Years, added that throughout the pandemic “the Government has treated children as an afterthought”.
“Vulnerable children were let down time and again, with huge impacts on learning, mental health, and wellbeing. The government’s dither and delay simply means this inquiry is starting far too late.”
A Government spokesperson said: “Following the publication of the draft Covid Inquiry terms of reference, there is now an ongoing period of public engagement and consultation being led by Baroness Hallett to inform further changes to the terms before they are finalised. The experience of children is in scope of the inquiry.”
