Think Tank Proposes Extended School Day to Aid Covid-Affected Youth
A report by the Centre for Social Justice recommends extending the school day by an hour to help children affected by Covid-19 lockdowns. The proposal aims to address truancy, mental health issues, and educational gaps.
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a think tank established by Sir Iain Duncan Smith in 2004, has proposed extending the school day by an hour to assist the "lost generation" of children affected by Covid-19 lockdowns. This recommendation is part of a comprehensive report titled "A United Nation," which outlines strategies to address the educational and social challenges faced by young people in the aftermath of the pandemic.
The report, produced by the CSJ's Social Justice Commission, emphasizes the need for immediate action to mitigate the long-term effects of lockdowns on children's education and well-being. It highlights that over 140,000 children are currently experiencing severe absence, defined as missing more than 50% of school sessions.
To combat truancy, the CSJ recommends deploying 2,000 attendance mentors and establishing a national parental participation strategy. These measures aim to foster better engagement between schools and parents in addressing attendance issues.
The proposed extended school week would include a "right to sport," mandating a minimum of two additional hours of physical activity and outdoor education per week. This initiative seeks to address the "activity gap," as one-third of children are considered inactive, engaging in less than 30 minutes of daily physical activity. The World Health Organization recommends at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity for children and adolescents, underscoring the importance of this proposal.
Mental health support is another crucial aspect of the CSJ's recommendations. The report projects that by 2030, over one in four children aged 5-15 will have a mental disorder if current trends continue. This prediction aligns with recent data from the UK's National Health Service, which reported a 39% increase in referrals for children's mental health services in 2021 compared to 2020.
The CSJ also calls for improved financial incentives to attract top-quality teachers to challenging schools and additional funding for boarding school places for children in care. Furthermore, the report suggests that Ofsted, the education regulator established in 1992, should include employability as a key component in school inspections.
"Our response to Covid-19 with its lockdown isolating people in communities, while damaging to so many of all ages, has unquestionably harmed young people across the country. Those in communities already suffering from poverty and social breakdown, have faced the greatest damage."
The report's recommendations come in the context of significant educational disruptions caused by the pandemic. The Education Policy Institute estimated that pupils in England lost an average of 2-3 months of learning during the first lockdown alone. In response, the UK government introduced measures such as the National Tutoring Programme in 2020 and announced a £1.4 billion education recovery package in 2021.
The CSJ's proposals extend beyond education, addressing broader societal issues. These include the introduction of optional national military service for 18-year-olds, increased funding for youth services, and the reallocation of £6 billion from central government to local authorities to tackle economic inactivity.
The cross-party nature of the Social Justice Commission, which includes figures such as Andy Burnham, Sir Stephen Timms MP, Miriam Cates, Tim Farron, and Lord King, underscores the broad recognition of the challenges facing young people in the post-pandemic era. As the UK continues to grapple with the long-term impacts of Covid-19 on its youth, the implementation of these recommendations could play a crucial role in shaping the future of education and social support systems.
