Ofsted: Children could face more danger at home if schools close due to Covid
There are concerns more cases of child abuse could go under the radar
If schools close again due to coronavirus, some children may be left in greater danger at home, Ofsted have suggested.
Amanda Spielman, Ofsted's chief inspector, has warned that there are a minority of kids "who sadly are safer in school than out of it".
Speaking during the launch of Ofsted's annual report, Ms Spielman referred to the death of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes as a "tragedy" and as a "callous murder"
She's concerned that if schools were closed once again, there may be some children that could suffer the same as what happened to Arthur, who was abused and killed in Solihull last year.
On the topic of whether school closures could see more cases like Arthur's go under the radar, she said:
"Schools closing clearly has some significant risks for children around the reduction in quality of education for a large proportion.
"But we know that there is a minority of children who, sadly, are safer in school than out of it. And we have to recognise that, by closing schools, we make that minority less safe."
32-year-old Emma Tustin, Arthur's stepmother, was jailed for a minimum term of 29 years at Coventry Crown Court after being found guilty of the six-year-old's murder.
Arthur's father, Thomas Hughes, was sentenced to 21 years for manslaughter.
On the tragic case, Amanda Spielman said: "What a tragedy this callous murder was and of course we've been thinking a lot about this and thinking about the people who loved him and have lost him".
Schools key in safeguarding children by identifying signs of abuse
The tragic case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes has stressed the important role that schools play in safeguarding children, education bosses say.
Ofsted has been called on to lead an inspectorate into the services involved with child protection in Solihull, with work set to begin next week, Amanda Spielman said.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: "Schools play a very important role in the safeguarding of children by identifying and reporting signs of abuse.
"In any period of closure there is clearly a risk that they are less able to do this and that cases may go undetected.
"The vital part that schools play in safeguarding is one of the reasons that it is very important for them to remain open and for children to be in the classroom."