Highlights impact of school closures and suggests anxious weeks ahead
Posted on Thursday 30 July 2020 in Press Releases, Schools, Research, Parenting
MEDIA RELEASE
Parents call for clarity; Children seek reassurance
Barnardos Back to School Survey 2020 highlights impact of school closures and suggests anxious weeks ahead
“I have no clue on what it will be like when she goes back and if she will be safe.”
(Primary School Parent, Barnardos Parents’ Back to School Survey 2020)
30th July 2020: Worry and lack of clarity about children going back to school during the Covid-19 pandemic have become parents’ top concern in this year’s Barnardos annual Back to School Survey, while the old worries about the cost of sending children to school have not gone away. A tandem survey of children and young people found that while children are eager to see their friends and get back to learning in a school setting, many are worried about contracting Covid-19 or passing it to a loved one.
“I am excited to see my friends but I live with my nana and I am worried about getting the virus and giving it to her. The news said we might have to stick with 3 people this makes me sad and makes me feel really worried as I have girls in my class that bully me. I feel worried what if I get put with one what do I do?”
(Primary School Girl, Barnardos Children and Young People’s Back to School Survey 2020)
Suzanne Connolly, Barnardos CEO, said: “This year we changed our survey to reflect the difficult circumstances parents and school pupils find themselves in. As well as asking parents about the cost of sending their child to school, we were keen to find out how parents and children and young people felt about school closures, home-schooling and returning to school during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our findings are clear; of the 1765 parent respondents, the vast majority believe strongly in the emotional and social benefit of children being in school but are worried about the effect school closures have had on their children. Over 90% of parents believe it is important for their children to return to school for their emotional and social development, and mental health wellbeing.
“They are also concerned of further impacts of social distancing, or lack thereof, in schools, and have expressed anxieties around Covid-19. The survey, which was conducted earlier in July, found parents were united in their frustration with the lack of clarity or information coming from Government.”
“To date we haven't had enough information, how can we help them prepare for school or make informed decisions without key information.”
(Secondary School Parent, Barnardos Parents’ Back to School Survey 2020)
“We are now calling on the government to outline how they are going to ensure the implementation of this plan in all schools and offer the required supports to roll out this plan.
The survey also found the pressures of paying for children’s education has not gone away. While costs have largely remained static since last year, parents report the weight of the costs is still a lot to bear, too much for some. Two in five primary school parents and half of secondary school parents say they have to cut back, avoid paying other bills or borrow money to pay for their child’s education.
“The cost is a very heavy burden as only husband is working and I am not receiving any benefits as I am unable to work for mental health reasons………………There is no money for activities to do in the summer. We do without a lot to send them to school. We do feel like the working poor.”
(Secondary School Parents, Barnardos Parents’ Back to School Survey 2020)
This year’s Parents Survey found:
Suzanne Connolly, Barnardos CEO, continued: “Children haven’t been heard throughout this crisis, so we felt it was important to give them a voice and let them have their say alongside their parents. 255 primary and secondary school pupils responded to our survey. Some told us they enjoyed aspects of being at home during restrictions earlier this year, but many found learning from home a challenge. Many more had mixed feelings, both about being at home during school closures and going back to school.
“I can’t wait but I am worried because I missed so much and I am doing the Junior Cert this year. We also don’t have good wifi so I found it very hard to do my work.”
(Secondary School Girl, Children and Young People’s Survey)
“Children and young people told us they missed their friends and many missed their teachers too. Some were excited about the return to school, while others worried whether they would be safe, would they pass the virus on to loved ones, or how would social distancing work. Some also worried about the impact on their learning and exams.
“I'm absolutely scared. Going into sixth year during a pandemic like this is the most stressful thing a child can go through.”
(Secondary School Boy, Children and Young People’s Survey)
“I’m scared of getting Corona Virus and I’ll miss my mum when I’m in school but I want to go back and see my friends. I hated not knowing what we would be doing every day.”
(Primary School Boy, Children and Young People’s Survey)
Ms Connolly concluded, “It is welcome that the Government’s plan to reopen schools include comprehensive measures to support children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing; but it is imperative these plans are implemented swiftly.”
The Children and Young People’s Survey found:
Snapshot of Basic School Costs
Senior Infants Pupil |
4th Class Pupil |
1st Year Student |
|
Uniform (including footwear) |
€120 |
€130 |
€235 |
School Books and stationery |
€95 |
€115 |
€285 |
Classroom resources |
€40 |
€40 |
€75 |
Voluntary contribution |
€75 |
€80 |
€140 |
Total |
€330 |
€365 |
€735 |
|
|||
Total in 2019 |
€340 |
€380 |
€735 |
END
Notes to Editor:
Full Report
Back to School Survey 2020 - Full Briefing Paper
Factsheets
Returning to School & Homeschooling - Factsheet 2020
Children and Young People Survey - Factsheet 2020
Back to School Costs Survey - Factsheet 2020
Infographic
Back to School Survey 2020
For further information, please contact:
Barnardos Press Office
Lorna Cronnelly: 087 0957757
Trudy McCarthy 01 7080442 / 086 0445966