Corona Chronicles: Children researching their everyday lives, education & relationships during the coronavirus pandemic (CHEER): Evidence submitted to the Education Select Committee (Project phase 1, September 2020 - Creative data by children)

This submission to the Education Select Committee* (September 2020) provides evidence from phase 1 of the Corona Chronicles research project, longitudinal research undertaken with children aged 9-11 (year 5-6) attending primary schools, including in disadvantaged localities in Yorkshire and Humber. The research has three phases: - Phase 1 undertaken during July-August is complete and so is included here. During phase 1, 12 children (aged 9-10) researched with Lomax and Smith, at a distance, using creative visual arts (animation, collage, comic strips, drawing, craft, model-making, digital photography, video and filmmaking) to ‘chronicle’ their experiences over a period of six weeks in England during July-August 2020. The data set comprises children’s week-by-week reflections on: Things they had noticed, their relationships, learning, physical activity, the environment and ‘giving’ as important dimensions of wellbeing (The Children’s Society, 2014; NHS). Data consists of over 100 visual and textual data from the participating children in which they describe their experiences, including what they experienced as supportive of their learning and mental and physical wellbeing during school closure and pandemic. Phase 2 (Oct-Nov 2020) and Phase 3 (Jan-March 2021), which includes photo-elicitation interviews with children and teachers and art workshops (in which children are generating key messages for parents, teachers and policy-makers about what has supported them and what has challenged their mental and physical health and learning), is underway and will be shared using digital animation.

*The Education Select Committee inquiry looked at how the outbreak of COVID-19 is affecting all aspects of the education sector and children’s social care system and will scrutinise how the Department for Education is dealing with the situation. It examined both short term impacts, such as the effects of school closures and exam cancellations, as well as longer-term implications particularly for the most vulnerable children.