Responding to the Children’s Commissioner’s call for a comprehensive recovery package to tackle the rising tide of childhood vulnerability caused by COVID-19, Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:
“It is vital that children’s needs are at the heart of future planning to ensure that they are safe, happy and have opportunities to thrive.
“As the impact of the coronavirus pandemic becomes apparent, more children, young people and their families are likely to need support, including child protection plans or even coming into the care system. But for many, they will just need some extra help to get through a difficult period.
“We are calling on the Government to use the forthcoming Spending Review to properly resource councils to enable investment in local safety nets and the universal and early help services, including mental health and wellbeing services, that children, young people and their families will need to support them through the short and long-term impacts of the pandemic.
“The Government should also work with councils and schools to reduce the attainment gap, including immediate work to stabilise the early years sector and support children and young people to attend school or to continue learning from home where required.”
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