THE Government should apologise to kids for avoidable errors in the pandemic, says the ex-Children’s Commissioner.
Baroness Anne Longfield said errors hurt youngsters’ education and wellbeing.
The closing and reopening of schools was ‘shambolic’, says the ex-Children’s Commissioner Baroness Anne Longfield[/caption]
After giving evidence to the Covid Inquiry today, she said a formal apology would “recognise that children and young people were overlooked and frequently ignored by the then Government”.
Lady Longfield said: “An apology would give the Government an opportunity to formally acknowledge the avoidable mistakes and damage done to children’s wellbeing, education, health, development and safety by decisions made in 2020 and 2021.”
Many vulnerable children were exposed to greater risks inside their own homes and online as a result of lockdowns, Lady Longfield added.
And the closing and reopening of schools was “shambolic”, she said, which had a long-term impact on learning.
Lady Longfield, who was commissioner from 2015 to 2021, also said the “rule of six” — which prohibited gatherings of more than six people — was “harmful” to the health and development of children.
She went on to say that decisions made on children in social care or custody did not take adequate account of the impact on them.
Lady Longfield had earlier told the inquiry she felt there was no one at the top level assessing any impact on kids.
She urged the Government to promise that children’s interests would be at the heart of decision-making in any future pandemic — and that schools would stay open wherever possible.
The inquiry continues.
Lady Longfield had earlier told the inquiry she felt there was no one at the top level assessing any impact on kids[/caption]
