COSLA submission
1. COSLA is the voice of Local Government in Scotland, we are a Councillor-led, cross-party organisation who champions councils’ vital work to secure the resources and powers they need to deliver effectively. We work on councils' behalf to focus on the challenges and opportunities they face, and to engage positively with Governments and stakeholders on policy, funding and legislation. We welcome the opportunity to discuss the impact of the pandemic on children and young people with the Committee.
2. The past 20 months have been very challenging for many children and young people, particularly those with additional support needs, who are care-experienced or from a socio-economic disadvantaged background. Protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of children and young people, against the challenging and changeable nature of the pandemic, has been the priority for Local Government.
3. Whilst the pandemic, and associated mitigations, are still with us, we need to continue with the important work to implement the Morgan Review, the revised National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland and the Promise alongside the Scottish Government’s proposed reform across education and children’s services and supporting the development and delivery of the Scottish Government’s next Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan.
4. From the start of the pandemic local authorities have had to balance the need to protect public health, including legal duties to follow public health advice provided by the Scottish Government, with the need to maintain support for our communities, particularly the most vulnerable. This led to some face-to-face services being closed to mitigate spread of the virus.
5. Following the initial closure of schools in March 2020, a great deal of work was undertaken to continue to provide school-based support for the children and young people of key workers and vulnerable children. Teachers and pupils adapted to remote learning despite some issues with different levels of access to digital devices and access to broadband, with significant efforts to distribute kit. Access to free school meals was also a focus locally.
6. With the second closure of schools in January 2021, schools were more prepared for remote learning, more pupils had digital devices and schools had further developed teaching strategies for remote learning. Once again access to school support was provided for the children and young people of key workers and vulnerable children.
7. Throughout the pandemic some parents, carers and young people have had to self-isolate or shield. Local authority staff and staff within commissioned services have also had to shield due to underlying health conditions or self-isolate due to close contact and/or positive tests. This led to additional demands being placed on the remaining workforce who have worked hard and continue to work hard to maintain delivery of essential support and services.
8. COSLA recognises that the pandemic has had a more significant impact on particular groups of children and young people, and those who care for them. Many agencies and organisations, including importantly the third sector, (both national and local organisations) have provided support to children, young people, family members and carers, often in new digitally connected ways.
9. Throughout the pandemic COSLA has worked collaboratively with partners locally and nationally, including co-chairing the COVID-19 Education Recovery Group with the Scottish Government. We have also been active members of the COVID-19 Children and Families Collective Leadership Group, and many other groups focused on facilitating the best possible support for children and young people during this difficult period.
10. Local Government is continuing to meet the challenges brought by the pandemic, while also playing a key role in recovery from the impacts of the pandemic. Councils are the anchors in our communities and maintain a focus on those who are potentially more vulnerable as a result of the pandemic, including children, young people and families with additional support needs, care-experienced young people and those from a background of socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds. Local Government, and the communities we serve, continue to show innovative and creative thinking in responding to the pandemic and the impacts of public health restrictions. The Committee are encouraged to consider COSLA’s “Live Well Locally” campaign as it will be vital that Local Government is properly funded in order to support communities to thrive as we recover.
11. We are pleased that the Committee are scrutinising the impact of the pandemic on children and young people with additional support needs, care-experienced young people and those from a background of socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds. We would encourage the committee to explore ways to hear directly from children, young people and families on their experience of the pandemic. We look forward to the Committee report following this scrutiny work and will be keen to apply any lessons learned.
12. The appendix is intended to provide the Committee with an overview of efforts to support children, young people and their families, and in particular those with additional support needs, care-experienced young people and those from a background of socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds, over the past 20 months.
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COSLA Annexe for Impact of Covid 19 on Children and Young People December 2021