Understanding Society launched a new Covid-19 survey in April 2020 in addition to our annual survey, collecting new data over 9 waves till September 2021. Together these data are providing valuable analysis on how different groups in society have been affected by the pandemic and how they have responded, particularly given that their circumstances, vulnerabilities, assets and challenges were vastly different. Some inequalities have narrowed, others widened, and some are unclear given the ongoing effects of the pandemic - which have also become entangled with the effects of Brexit.

Revealing detailed analysis on the pandemic, the Insights 2022 Report is being launched alongside a programme of policy events, focusing on three topics:

• The mental health ‘legacy’ of Covid19

• Did furlough help and protect?

• Children in the pandemic

CHILDREN IN THE PANDEMIC

The pandemic has seen disruption to children’s education across the world, not simply in terms of loss of learning but also effects on children’s emotional health and development. With variations in the level of home schooling and online learning, and disruption to family life, has educational inequality now become much harder to address? Schools have responded imaginatively. In September 2021 attendance was in the 90s, but some on-going disruption to education is continuing. With the pandemic expected to have long-term impacts on life-time earnings without sustained intervention, what targeted learning support strategies are needed – and how can schools become better places for social justice, mental health and nutrition?

09.30 – 09.35 Welcome and Introductions

Chair: Raj Patel, Associate Director, Policy and Partnerships, Understanding Society

09.35 – 09.55 The emotional and behavioural effects of school closures on children

Professor Birgitta Rabe, Institute for Social and Economic Research

09.55 – 10.15 Learning inequalities during the Covid-19 pandemic: what happened and how can we address it?

Dr Nicola Pensiero, Lecturer in quantitative education and social science, School of Education, University of Southampton

10.15 – 10.30 Social mobility reflections

Nicola Di Luzio, Deputy Director for Advocacy, Social Mobility Commission

10.30 – 10.55 Q&A – led by Chair

10.55 – 11.00 Summary and Close – Chair