Primary school children across Yorkshire hit hardest by pandemic, says new Ofsted report

Children at primary school across the region have been hit hard by lockdown, according to the latest Ofsted report.

Across Yorkshire and the Humber 83 per cent of primary schools were judged to be 'good' or 'outstanding' - compared with 88 per cent nationally.

Children have seen their education negatively impacted in a number of ways since March.

This includes loss of face-to-face teaching time, limited social contact and growing concerns across the region of a widening digital divide, highlighted extensively by The Yorkshire Post, as many children are living in households with no access to laptop, desktop or tablet computer.

Emma Ing, Ofsted’s Director for Yorkshire and Humber, and the North East, since August 2019, said more support was needed in the provision of early years initiatives, with emphasis on reading and writing, across Yorkshire and the North, to improve life chances.

She said: "From the report Yorkshire hasn't done as well in the primary. Going forward there needs to be a real focus on reading and phonics and getting children off to a really good start - and making sure too they get excellent early years education.

"We have not been doing well in getting children off to a good start with reading, and the first lockdown has set back children’s reading skills even further. We know that teachers are working hard to help children catch up on the learning they have lost, but the pandemic has widened the inequality of opportunities.

"Worryingly, many children have not returned to school since March. We have seen an increase in home education and attendance figures across the region’s schools has got worse."

Key findings from the report showed the lowest rates of inspected primary schools judged good or outstanding were recorded in Doncaster (68 per cent), while the highest rates were recorded in primary schools in North Lincolnshire (90 per cent), two per cent higher than the national average.

Meanwhile Sheffield had the highest rate of improvement (89 per cent) - five per cent higher from 31 August 2019. Whereas in Rotherham the proportion of good or outstanding schools declined by four percentage points compared with 2019.

Fiona Spellman, the chief executive of the Northern education charity SHINE, said: "The schools – particularly those in the most disadvantaged areas - are stretched at present, with Covid resulting in staff shortages and financial concerns.

"It is vital they receive the backing they need to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children, while also giving them the best chances to succeed in the future."

The warning comes as England’s chief inspector of schools and children’s services in England has warned of an emerging safeguarding crisis, with many vulnerable pupils still not back in the classroom, child protection referrals down and fears that abuse may be going undetected.

In her fourth annual report as head of Ofsted, Amanda Spielman said the invisibility of vulnerable children as a result of the Covid pandemic should be “a matter of national concern”, and she called on all agencies involved to pull together to tackle the most urgent cases.

Across Yorkshire there has been a reported 80 per cent rise in incidents of harm to the youngest and most vulnerable children.

The NSPCC and Anne Longfield, the Children's Commissioner for England, have previously raised concerns about risks to vulnerable children during the lockdown.

Ms Ing said: "Perhaps one of the most alarming trends that we’ve seen, is the continuing rise in incidents of harm to the youngest and most vulnerable children."

Ms Spellman said: "There is a limit to what could be done in such difficult circumstances and it is clear from this report that many vulnerable children have suffered greatly during lockdown.

"They effectively became invisible at a time when Covid was causing a multitude of problems for families including loss of income, isolation, bereavement and anxiety.

"Moving forward, schools are key to helping these hidden victims of the pandemic. Once all children are back in school, teachers and other professionals can ensure they are looked after and receive the support they need."

Sarah Mulholland, Head of Policy of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, added: "The issues reflected by Ofsted support the stand taken by Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner, and highlight many of the specific concerns around the most vulnerable during the pandemic.

"The report rightly highlights the impact of schools sending home pupils when it is necessary, and it remains clear that a gap in devices as well as connectivity to some homes is still an issue when pupils learn from home.

"Figures have shown in some weeks that areas of Yorkshire, such as Calderdale, have had some of the most disrupted learning. This is where we will have the toughest work to ensure that young people from the most disadvantaged homes in particular are getting the support they need to catch up."

A Department for Education spokeswoman, said: "The safety and well-being of the most vulnerable children has always been our focus, which is why we kept nurseries, schools and colleges open for those children throughout the pandemic.

"It remains a national priority to keep full-time education open for all."

Latest Ofsted report - Yorkshire and the Humber snapshot

*While the regulatory work by Ofstead in social care and early years continued throughout the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, routine inspection in the remits for which they are

not the regulator paused from March 2020.

State-funded schools

- 82 per cent of schools in the region were judged good or outstanding at their most recent inspection, compared with 86 per cent nationally.

For secondary schools, 73 per cent in Yorkshire and The Humber were judged to be good or outstanding, three per cent lower than the national average, but an increase of three percentage point compared with 2019.

The highest ratings were recorded in North Lincolnshire (93) per cent of inspected secondary schools were judged good or outstanding. While the lowest were recorded in Doncaster (56 per cent) While Barnsley had the highest rate of improvement across the region with two secondary schools improving to good during 2019/20.

North Yorkshire was the only local authority in the region where the proportion of good or outstanding schools declined (two percentage points) compared with 2019. This was due to one school declining from good to inadequate.

Non-association independent schools

- For non-association independent schools, 74 per cent in Yorkshire and The Humber were judged to be good or outstanding, an increase of three per cent from last year, but three per cent lower than the national average.

Further Education and Skills

- By the end of August 2020, 81 per cent of providers in the North East, Yorkshire and The Humber 3 were judged good or outstanding, broadly in line with the national proportion of 80 per cent.

- In the 2019/20 reporting year, 12 providers in the North East, Yorkshire and The Humber were judged on the delivery of their apprenticeships in the region.

Of these, 67 per cent were judged good or outstanding. This compares with 52 per cent nationally.

Area SEND inspections

- During the 2019/20 reporting year, York received an area SEND inspection and Kingston upon Hull received a revisit.

Overall in Yorkshire and The Humber, five areas required a written statement of action - Kingston upon Hull, North East Lincolnshire, Sheffield, Wakefield and York.

There are six areas in the region which have yet to receive an inspection as part of the initial five-year programme.

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