NSW Covid: School restrictions harmed children’s mental and physical health

Getting kids back in classrooms isn’t enough to repair two years of disrupted study, with almost three in four suffering “learning and developmental impacts” during Covid.

Getting kids back in classrooms isn’t enough to repair two years of disrupted study, as parents call for direct interventions like extra tutoring, mental health support or vouchers to participate in travel and sport.

In NSW, 82 per cent of children have experienced “learning and development impacts” during the pandemic – significantly higher than the national average of 69 per cent – according to a new landmark survey of Australian parents commissioned by not-for-profit, Save the Children.

Northern Beaches mum Sophie Moss is one of thousands of NSW parents worried about what her children have missed out on from two years of school disruptions. Picture: David Swift

As tens of thousands of students return to the classroom, there is overwhelming support for increased travel, sport participation, counselling and academic tutoring opportunities to help children make up for lost time.

About 68 per cent of 1,500 parents surveyed reported their children were disengaged from education, while 77 per cent suffered socially due to limited attendance at school

Three in four children have experienced a negative impact on their physical health, which the majority of parents attributed to limited participation in sport and increased screen time.

Save the Children is now calling on the federal government to develop a “long term” plan to get all students “back on track”.

“Evidence from previous financial crises has demonstrated the long-term detrimental impact such events have on young people’s employment outcomes, and nowhere in modern history has such an economic crisis been accompanied by the health impacts and social disconnection and disruption caused by Covid,” the Save the Children report said.

For Olivia Moss, Didier Traore and Chelsea Moss returning to the classroom means finally spending time with friends and teachers after years interrupted by Covid-19. Picture: David Swift

Sydney mother Sophie Moss said her son Didier Traore, 8 and stepdaughters Chelsea, 12 and Olivia, 14 had all struggled with different aspects of remote learning and were eager to get back to school.

“The girls are more independent learners, but Didier found school learning really hard and needed a lot of help from me,” she said.

Ms Moss said the children had suffered a “huge disconnection” from the community and routine a normal school year would provide, which contributed to “a bit of anxiety in all of them”.

She welcomed proactive offers of counselling from her son’s school.

Didier said he was looking forward to playing soccer on the school team and wanted “experience the teachers,” while Olivia and Chelsea both said they were looking forward to “seeing friends” and would follow whatever Covid restrictions necessary to stay in class.

“I’m actually fine with wearing a mask as long as I can go back (to school),” Chelsea said.

PERROTTET VOWS ‘SEAMLESS’ RETURN TO SCHOOL

Premier Dominic Perrottet has written to parents and teachers across the state to thank them for their efforts in navigating disrupted classes over the past two years, and pledging to take every possible step to keep schools Covid-safe.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: David Swift

As students head back to the classroom on Monday, Mr Perrottet wrote directly to parents to say the education system “has been working in overdrive” to get kids back to school.

“So I am determined to make this year as seamless as possible for you, your families and your kids, and I hope getting back to school will ease some of the pressure for you too,” he said.

He told teachers and administrative staff that “there will no doubt be challenges, disruption and difficulties” with returning to school.

“But our goal as a government is to provide a safe and stable environment in which our students can learn in 2022, and that means taking every possible step to ensure you are kept Covid-safe at school too.”

It comes as the $250 in vouchers for parents came a step closer, with eligible accommodation providers now able to register to accept the Dine-and-Discover-style discounts. The vouchers, now branded as “Parents NSW” vouchers, will be redeemable at some point in February. Multiple parents vouchers can be redeemed in the same transaction up to a maximum of $250. The vouchers will be administered on the Service NSW application.

Businesses can also now register to accept “Stay NSW” vouchers which will provide a one-time $50 discount off accommodation.

“Whether you’re a hotel in Sydney, motel in rural NSW or a holiday park in a coastal town, we want you to take advantage of this stimulus and see more customers come through your doors,” Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said.