The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities

Professor Amel Alghrani's research focuses on how law can be used to tackle inequalities in society. The Ask, Listen, Act Study is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in recognition of the lack of robust national research focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education, health and social care provision for children with SEND.

The study found that lockdowns during the pandemic caused children with SEND were to become bored and lonely, their mental health declined, and their social, emotional and physical development was negatively impacted. Amel engaged with key stakeholders in policy to ensure that the findings from her research were fed back in order to impact positive societal change.

This video explains the key questions that were considered during the design phase of the project and how engaging with relevant policy makers could lead to change.