In this short piece Dr Jo Neary, of the Network for Social and Educational Equity (NSEE), reflects on how schools' responses to COVID-19 both emphasised existing good practice and challenged schools to reflect on their social responsibility role within the community.

In April 2020, over 180 countries implemented school closures in response to the community spread of COVID-19. This act created a ripple effect, with interruptions to learning, to additional support for learners, but also interrupted the support given to the most vulnerable pupils.

It is argued that COVID-19 did not create new vulnerabilities, but rather, it shone a light on existing vulnerabilities within the community and exacerbated them. This was particularly the case in families where there was a loss of income due to COVID-19 related redundancy or parental ill-health.

Read the full blog on the NSEE website

First published: 2 February 2022

<< All resources