School closures and remote learning exposed hidden inequalities.
COVID disrupted schooling, routines, assessments, exams, services and relationships.
Some children found remote learning easier. Others lost structure, safety, specialist support and social contact.
COVID showed that school is not only lessons. It is routine, meals, safeguarding, therapy, identity, friendship and containment of pressure.
The lesson should not be return to normal without question. For many children, normal was already not working.
A common mistake is assuming COVID affected all learners in the same way. It exposed how individual education needs really are.
Who had power here, who was left outside, and what would have changed if the human being was seen first?
These deep dives open out from this part of the timeline.