A national survey of more than 1,100 parents and carers whose children are supported by The Smith Family, has revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to deeply impact children’s education, due to ongoing disruptions to ‘normal’ schooling, the after-effects of home learning and other urgent issues faced by families in need.

Among the key findings:

• Two-thirds (66%) of parents and carers reported that COVID made starting school difficult this year and more than half (54%) said it was continuing to make learning difficult for their children. Among the issues reported were mental health concerns, worries about getting COVID, missing school due to being unwell with COVID or being in isolation, and disrupted routines and connections between children, parents and teachers.
• It was also striking that 70% of parents and carers said they’re worried about their children’s schoolwork in the future – their biggest worry being their children falling behind at school – with almost three-quarters (74%) saying they struggled to help their children with schoolwork during COVID due to a lack of devices, skills, time or internet access for home learning, and juggling other responsibilities.

One caregiver surveyed said, “Last year [my child’s] grades dropped significantly – a combination of lack of learning support materials and difficulties in attempting to home school.”

Another respondent said, “We’re all thinking, how long before we get sent home again? How is this year going to play out? Will my Year 6 child be ready for high school, as he’s already behind? Will my Year 1 child be able to catch up as she missed most of kindy?”

The Smith Family’s CEO, Doug Taylor said students experiencing disadvantage were at risk of falling behind even before the pandemic, and Grattan Institute analysis of the NAPLAN data shows that significant gaps remain or have worsened for these students over the past two years.

“This is an issue that needs to be addressed with absolute urgency,” Mr Taylor said. “We’re seeing a widening educational gap reflected in the data and we’re hearing directly from families that they’re worried about their children’s education.

“Helping students in need who are struggling at school is a key focus of The Smith Family’s work, and what we’re seeing in this third year of the pandemic is that the need is greater than ever.

“We want to extend our tailored learning support programs to more children over the coming year so that they can thrive in their education once again.

“This is not just a job for schools alone,” Mr Taylor added. “We all have a part to play to help children experiencing the impacts of poverty to overcome the challenges they face and have a positive future. The Smith Family relies on support from generous donors across Australia to help us do exactly that.”

The survey coincides with the launch of The Smith Family’s Winter Appeal, which aims to raise over $5.4 million by 30 June. Donations will help the charity provide vital extra learning

and mentoring support to 12,857 more children in need, including giving them access to a range of proven numeracy, reading and mentoring programs.

These programs include:

• student2student, which pairs children with older students to improve their reading skills outside of school;
• Learning Clubs, which provide a safe and supportive out-of-school learning environment where primary and secondary students can participate in activities that develop their academic skills, such as homework, numeracy and literacy;
• iTrack, a program linking high school students with an adult mentor to help them understand how they can reach their career goals.

“We know our evidence-based programs work because we measure the progress of students to ensure they are benefitting,” Mr Taylor said.

“Not only do our programs equip young people with knowledge and skills, but they open their eyes to future study and career opportunities.

“Providing extra support that’s tailored to students’ needs and delivered when they need it, is an effective way to help them keep up with their learning and make the most of their education. This can make a huge difference to their life outcomes.

“It has been such a challenging year for many young Australians, particularly those in the communities where The Smith Family works,” Mr Taylor added.

“We urge the community to donate to our Winter Appeal. Please help us ensure all children in need can make the most of their education and create better futures for themselves.”

For 100 years, The Smith Family has been helping children in need across Australia. To find out more about the charity’s learning and mentoring programs and how you can support its Winter Appeal, go to www.thesmithfamily.com.au/winter