Connect Report on the Parent/Carer Survey: How are you doing?

Connect launched a survey of parents/carers on Wednesday 1 April 2020 which asked ‘How are you doing?’

We wanted parents’ voices to be heard, as they come to terms with a very different reality as a result of COVID-19 and school/nursery closures. 

We wanted to help government, local authorities, schools/nurseries and teachers/early years practitioners understand the experiences and pressures faced by families, so parents, children and young people could be supported through this difficult time.  We want parents to know they are not alone in juggling so many conflicting pressures – many, many families are trying to get by, and lack the confidence, time or equipment to support their child’s school work. Parents are not teachers; home learning is not the same as school learning. Read our statement on home learning, which is supported by Dr Janet Goodall, here.

The statistical findings so far (as at 9am on 8 April 2020) are here.

Please read the Appendix to this statistical summary here. It includes all the very important full comments and responses from parents. In the Appendix, you will find the detail of the issues and concerns parents are facing.  There are many learning points for everyone in what parents are saying.  We are extremely grateful to the parents and carers who have shared their experiences and feelings with us.  

The parent/carer survey will continue to run for a few more weeks but we felt it was really important to share these initial results as soon as possible.