Lockdowns badly affect children’s speech and language skills - and can have long-term effects

The past year of lockdowns has had a negative impact on young children’s speech and language skills, new research has found.

Data from 50,000 pupils and a survey of schools across England have shown that an increased number of four and five year-old children need help with language.

Deprived of social contact

Research from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) suggests that the measures taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus over the past year have deprived the youngest children of social contact, hindering experiences that are essential for increasing vocabulary.

Reduced or no contact with grandparents, social distancing, the wearing of face coverings in public and the inability to enjoy play dates with other youngsters, have left children less exposed to conversation and everyday interactions.

Evidence shows that poor speech development can have long-term effects on learning, and many schools have said they are worried about the impact the pandemic has had on young children in particular.

Of 58 primary schools surveyed across England, 76 per cent said that pupils who started school in September required more support with communication compared with previous years.

Additionally, 96 per cent said they were concerned about pupil’s speech and language development, while 56 per cent of parents expressed concerns about their child starting at school following the lockdown in the spring and summer.

Findings from the EEF are also reflected in data from the company Speech Link, which offers standardised assessments to primary schools.

Among 50,000 young children aged four and five who started school in September, an extra 20 to 25 per cent needed help with language skills in comparison to the year before.

Concerns have also been raised about the impact of the pandemic on pre-school children.

The Institute of Health Visiting said that up to 63 per cent of health visitors in England, who check on the development of babies and toddlers, were redeployed early on in the pandemic.

What is being done to help?

The UK government has said it is investing £18 million in early-years catch-up, including extra help for those in Reception.