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. 2021 Feb 16;5(1):e000981.
doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000981. eCollection 2021.

Impact of lockdown and school closure on children in special schools: a single-centre survey

Tapomay Banerjee  1 , Amjad Khan  1 , Piriyanga Kesavan  1
Affiliations

Impact of lockdown and school closure on children in special schools: a single-centre survey

Tapomay Banerjee et al. BMJ Paediatr Open. .

Abstract

Special schools play a significant role in the daily lives of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. We explored the impact of the COVID-19-related first lockdown and resulting school closure by surveying parents whose children attended three special schools in Bedford, UK. We asked about anxiety and impact on emotional well-being and education. We received 53 responses from parents: 31 felt their child was more anxious during the lockdown period/school closure compared with beforehand and 42 felt their child's emotional well-being had been affected. Children and young people attending special schools may have struggled both academically and emotionally during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; data collection; psychology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

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