The impact of world events

In recent years, we have experienced, and received lots of news about global and local events, including the Covid-19 pandemic, wars in other countries, climate change, and more recently the ‘cost-of-living crisis’ within the UK. All of these have had a lasting impact on our country, our economy and our education system. These events will have proven for many to be unsettling and upsetting and may have brought additional pressures to pre-existing personal, familial and school factors.

Prior to school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic, some students were already experiencing difficulties with attendance. When schools closed, most children stayed at home and developed a new routine in which they were told that they were safe at home with their families and did not have to go to school. Some students enjoyed online learning or other activities that they were able to do within their day. During this time, students have had a lack of face-to-face contact with others, they may have lost skills they once had or despite everyone’s best efforts they may have missed learning. EBSA can be exacerbated and maintained through periods of absence with children being isolated from friends, through fear of being behind with schoolwork or an increased anxiety about leaving their safe space at home. Some Lancashire families have talked about children experiencing anxiety around their own or family members’ health, the uncertainty of what school will be like now, anxiety about being separated from caregivers, no longer being motivated to learn in school when they have seen they can learn effectively at home, no longer having friendships or finding the school environment overwhelming.