Responding to a report by the Early Intervention Foundation and Action for Children which found school closures, social distancing and lockdown measures have seriously affected the ability of services to support children and families, Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:
“Councils have led their communities through the coronavirus pandemic, and moved swiftly to implement new ways of working to ensure they are able to support vulnerable children and young people.
“Social workers and colleagues across children’s services and education should be commended for their determination to keep children safe and well.
“This report echoes our concerns about the long-term impact of the coronavirus crisis on vulnerable children and families and adds further support to our longstanding call for children’s services to be properly funded by the Government, especially as we look ahead to the recovery period.
“It is also important that there is additional funding for early help services to make sure that families get support before issues escalate. The impact of the pandemic on some children will be far-reaching, and it will be essential that the right services are there to support them.”
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