Covid-19 Response: Impact on Children and Young People

​The Panel has launched this review in order to identify the following key issues in relation to the impact of the COVID-19 response on children and young people:

• The impact of the school closures/lockdown/stay at home order/work for home and loss of the learning environment on children, young people, their families and home working environment, from conception to aged 25.

• The appropriateness or not of the decisions and actions taken by the Government of Jersey that directly related to the wellbeing of children and young people during the initial stages and subsequent stages of the pandemic (be that social, emotional or physical)

• The ethos, culture and processes in relation to children and families within key decision-making bodies such as CoM, CA, EC and States departments, and whether children are being considered at the earliest stages and prioritised in line with the States-wide commitment to 'putting children first'

• The views of children, young people and their families on the decisions and actions that were taken to maintain their wellbeing during the initial and subsequent stages of the pandemic.

• To examine existing inequalities and identify the additional impact of the pandemic on these issues.

• How the various needs of children and young people were addressed at different stages of the pandemic.

• To examine the Scientific Technical Advisory Cell (STAC) advice at all key decision milestones against the decisions taken by the Government of Jersey in respect of the impact on and wellbeing of children and young people.

The ongoing workstreams that are in train to maintain the wellbeing of children and young people as the pandemic situation progresses and learn from the experiences (both positive and negative) of children and young people

The Panel presented its report on Tuesday 5th April 2022. A digital summary version of the report can be read here.

Senator Tracey Vallois and Deputy Mike Higgins did not participate in this review.

• To identify and assess the Government of Jersey's response to the Covid-19 pandemic in respect of actions and decisions taken affecting children and young people from conception to aged 25. 

• To assess the decisions taken affecting children and young people arising from STAC advice and their appropriateness and proportionality and also the ethos, culture and processes in relation to children and families within key decision-making bodies such as Council of Ministers, Competent Authorities, Emergencies Council and Government Departments.

• To gather and examine the views of children, young people and their families in relation to the actions and decisions taken to date affecting them in respect of the Covid-19 pandemic response.

• To identify and assess the ongoing workstreams to assist children and young people in the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and how the Government of Jersey is learning from the experience (both positive and negative) of children and young people.