Pupils starting reception with poor skills after pandemic, says Ofsted report

Primary schools are having to teach infants how to communicate as they struggle to make friends or cope with lessons because of speech and language difficulties, a report says.

- Richard Adams

The research by Ofsted inspectors, based on visits to schools in England rated as good or outstanding, found the Covid pandemic "is still having an impact on children's behaviour and social skills".

Schools told inspectors that the "consequences of lockdowns" meant that "children were starting reception with delayed communication and language, poor self-help skills and emotional difficulties".