Image source, Getty imagesAt a glanceThe former children’s commissioner for England said the decision to open pub gardens while schools remained closed during the pandemic was a “terrible mistake”Giving evidence to the Covid inquiry, Anne Longfield said schools should be “the last to close and the first to reopen” in future emergenciesThe then-Education Secretary Gavin Williamson had said during the pandemic that he wanted nothing more than to “get schools back to normal”Vanessa ClarkeEducation reporterPublished6 October 2023It was a “terrible mistake” to open pubs while keeping schools shut during the pandemic, an inquiry has heard. Anne Longfield, who was the children’s commissioner for England during Covid, was giving evidence to the second round of public hearings.Politicians should ensure children’s needs are never overlooked again in future emergencies, she said.She added schools should be “the last [services] to close and the first to reopen” – unlike what happened during Covid.The most vulnerable children will be struggling with the impact of the pandemic for the next 10 or 20 years, she said.In March 2020, the UK’s 24,000 schools were closed for most children and examinations cancelled.In the months that followed, schools were reopened and closed multiple times for most children.The then-Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said at the time he wanted nothing more than to “get schools back to normal”.Ms Longfield told the inquiry the government made decisions which on occasion “lacked coherence” and was “indifferent” to the impact of policy decisions in children.While the initial school closures were necessary, she says the decision to keep schools closed for most children from March 2020 to September 2020, while at the same time increasing social interaction in other parts of society, was a “terrible mistake”.”We had ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ instead of schools opening,” she said.What is the UK Covid inquiry and how long will it take?Published1 hour agoThe devastating toll of the pandemic on childrenPublished30 January 2021Johnson accused of chaotic flip-flopping in CovidPublished3 OctoberIn June 2020, as part of a phased return in schools, Mr Williamson said robust protective measures had been put in place, and that it was “in every child’s best interest to return to school if they are eligible and able”.“A measured return is part of our roadmap, it’s part of how we will recover and rebuild,” he said, adding the plan was to bring all children back to school in September 2020,