Children 'struggling' as survey shows more than half worried about falling behind with schoolwork
Some children say they are "struggling" with schoolwork as learning from home means a lack of routine and pupil-teacher interaction.
More than half of young people who took part in a survey said they are worried about falling behind with their learning during the coronavirus pandemic.
11,002 people aged between 12 and 18 completed the survey which asked them about their thoughts and feelings during lockdown.
The survey found that whilst many children enjoyed certain aspects of lockdown, such as more time spent with family, they also missed their friends and the ability to ask a teacher questions face-to-face.
The survey was conducted by the Children's Commissioner for Wales, the Welsh Government, Welsh Youth Parliament and charity, Children in Wales.
Welsh Government announced last week that all year groups would return to school at the end of June. There will be a phased approach with no more than a third of pupils present at any one time.
Only 11 per cent of 12-18 year olds who took part said they did not feel worried about their education. The survey also revealed that some in that age group are struggling with the work they are being sent to do at home with 27 per cent saying they have trouble understanding it.
Steffan Nicholas, who is 14 years old and from Ceredigion, said the biggest challenge for him is that he cannot "get support or advice from a teacher if" he does not "understand a question or topic."
Another pupil, 17-year-old Saiba Ahuja from Cardiff, echoed those concerns and said she was also missing the ability to simply put her hand up and ask for help.
Many others who completed the survey said they wanted more face-to-face online contact with teachers to help them manage. This was a particular concern for some students with additional learning needs. One 12-year-old boy from west Wales who has dyslexia said he was finding it particularly hard as the work comes as written text.
With schools now sending home work for pupils, it is not just problems with understanding it that some students raised. Just under half of 12-18 year olds said they do not feel motivated to do the work.
A common finding was that children were missing their friends and were excited about going back to school. 17-year-old Siân Williams from Llangollen said she was "really exited" to see friends again but there was also "a level of wariness and anxiousness" about returning.
Altogether, nearly 24,000 children and young people in Wales aged between 3 and 18 completed the survey and the majority (84 per cent) who responded said they felt safe during the pandemic.
Sally Holland, the Children's Commissioner for Wales said: "Clearly this has been a really difficult time for children and families all over the country. We've consistently heard adults' views on the issues stemming from the pandemic, but until now children's views have been notably absent.
"Through this survey we have been able hear how many children and young people desperately miss their friends, are anxious about relatives dying from the virus and are worried about their learning, but many have found unexpected pleasures in the dramatic changes to their routines.
"There are many difficult policy decisions to make in relation to Coronavirus, but these results will help the Government to take stock of all of the issues that are important to children as we move on through this situation."
Welsh Government said that the survey results helped inform its decision to start reopening schools to all year pupils.
On June 3, Education Minister Kirsty Williams announced that schools in Wales will reopen on June 29. Each school will take a phased approach, with year groups split into much smaller classes and staggered start and break times for pupils.