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The government is about to ‘temporarily’ suspend free travel for under 18s in London, to protect public health during the pandemic. This will be a disaster for families with children who are already struggling and could mean that children and young people will miss out on their education and other opportunities in the capital. Families have suffered enough during the pandemic – it’s not right that they should be punished further during a time of national crisis.

To understand how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted children’s experience of learning, we conducted some research through surveys and interviews. We gathered the experiences of 3,600 parents and carers, along with 1,300 children and young people, with an emphasis on the experiences of low-income households. We found that the cost burdens of school closures have fallen most heavily on families already living on a low income.

Our new report draws together CPAG’s evidence of the gaps in support that exist for children and families affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, research into how local authorities are spending the hardship money they have been allocated by central government and good practice with local welfare assistance scheme

The government has acted quickly to protect people’s economic livelihoods during the covid-19 pandemic. However, as raised in our previous Covid-19 briefing (March 2020), there is still no additional financial support beyond free school meal vouchers for families with children, despite these households facing significant extra costs.