New research suggests that children who started primary school during the Covid-19 lockdowns suffered the most lasting developmental impact. The study, led by the University of East Anglia and published in Child Development, tracked 139 children aged 2.5 to 6.5 over several years, assessing cognitive skills such as memory, focus, impulse control, and adaptability – collectively known as “executive functions.” Reception-aged children in 2020 showed slower growth in these abilities compared with younger pre-schoolers, who recovered more quickly after lockdowns ended. Experts highlighted that the disruption of routines and reduced social interaction during this critical first year of school hindered peer socialisation and early classroom learning.
