Covid: Catch-up narrative putting 'huge pressure' on children, psychologists say

[ritcha filterfar]

The idea that children must "catch up" with learning lost due to the pandemic is heaping "huge" pressure on them, educational psychologists have warned.

Many pupils have missed out on months of face-to-face teaching, and the PM has appointed a catch-up tsar to lead educational recovery in England.

But the British Psychological Society says children's wellbeing, rather than their learning, should be the focus.

The government said it was funding support for pupils' mental wellbeing.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out his "road map" for lifting lockdown restrictions in England later, with all schools expected to reopen on 8 March.

Some younger children will also return to classrooms in Northern Ireland that week, while Wales and Scotland begin a phased return to schools for some pupils from Monday.

Dr Dan O'Hare, co-chair of the BPS division of educational and child psychology, said it was "absolutely understandable" that parents are concerned children have "been missing out on many aspects of their formal education" - but warned against setting expectations too high.

"The notion that children need to catch up or are 'behind' at school due to the pandemic reinforces the idea that children have 'one shot' at their education and puts them under even more pressure to perform academically after what has been a challenging and unprecedented time for everyone," he told the PA News agency.

"Formal lessons must of course continue, but we shouldn't simply expect children and young people to pick up where they've left off and 'catch up' immediately on any gaps in their learning.

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