The youngest children at primary schools in England were the worst affected by learning loss after last year’s pandemic lockdown, with those aged six and seven most likely to fall behind in maths and writing, according to this report by Juniper.
The report examined teacher assessment data from more than 6,000 primary schools representing 1.47 million pupils. It looks at the percentage of pupils achieving, or exceeding, what is expected for their age (age related expectations) for Years 1 through to 6 in reading, writing and maths, in comparison to pre-pandemic levels. It also examines what effect children’s return to school from September through to December 2020 had on their learning.
It looks at the percentage of pupils achieving, or exceeding, what is expected for their age (age related expectations) for Years 1 through to 6 in reading, writing and maths, in comparison to pre-pandemic levels. It also examines what effect children’s return to school from September through to December 2020 had on their learning.
The report reveals that although all year groups have struggled to reach age related expectations due to the pandemic, it is the youngest children whose learning has had the most significant drop. Prior to the pandemic 82% of Year 1 pupils achieved age related expectations in reading, 79% in writing and 83% in maths, By the summer term of 2020 these figures had dropped to 60%, 54%, and 59% of pupils respectively.
The report is the latest evidence to suggest that the learning loss suffered by pupils during lockdown has been significant and may require more resources than the £1.3bn now allocated by the government for pupils in England.