Giving evidence at Thursday’s public hearing, Anne Longfield accused ministers of adopting a “doom loop” of fatalism that left children’s needs overlooked. She said prolonged school closures and strict lockdowns had fuelled an “explosion” in mental health issues, welfare problems, and behavioural difficulties that continue to affect young people today.
“The children and young people who experienced the Covid pandemic some of whom will now be adults and some just starting school are owed a formal apology from the prime minister in parliament once the inquiry has published its final report,” Longfield told the panel.
She said such an apology would acknowledge the “damage that was done to children’s wellbeing, education, health, development, and safety” in 2020 and 2021, and could help restore trust while promising lessons for future crises.
The inquiry this week turned its focus to the impact of pandemic decisions on children, and is expected to hear from policymakers including Gavin Williamson, the education secretary at the time.
Longfield criticised the government for sidelining children’s interests in favour of reopening pubs, shops, and theme parks, and accused ministers of dropping vital social care safeguards. Reduced requirements meant social workers often could not see vulnerable children without parents present, allowing some families to conceal problems.
“There wasn’t the kind of Nightingale moment that hospitals got, in schools,” she said. “So many things could have been done differently around keeping schools open but they weren’t.”
She also highlighted lasting consequences: persistent school absence has doubled since 2019, education and health care plans for children with special needs have risen by 80%, and autism diagnoses have tripled.
“The data is completely conclusive,” Longfield said. “Virtually every indicator of vulnerability has increased since pre-Covid.”
