“While it is encouraging that there is some evidence of recovery from the pandemic, and teachers and school leaders deserve great credit for this, a number of difficulties remain. Concerns around pupils’ attendance, behaviour and wellbeing have grown substantially since the pandemic and, as this report suggests, will take concerted work within and beyond the school community to address.
“We support calls for renewed focus on low-attaining pupils and closing the disadvantage gap. It’s vital that schools have the resources they need to support disadvantaged pupils, who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
“It’s important we continue studying the impact of the pandemic on pupils’ learning and wider development, and as we begin to see the green shoots of recovery in some areas we must not lose sight of the many lingering effects and keep striving to overcome these.”