Mitigating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents and carers during school closures: a rapid evidence review

Summary

As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), countries worldwide have faced multiple mandatory lockdowns, movement restrictions, and enforced physical distancing measures; as well as individuals dealing with stress, fear and uncertainty of virus spread and severity. Understanding the full extent of the effects incurred by parents and carers during school closures is vital to identifying and supporting vulnerable families, as well as mitigating harmful consequences to themselves their children, and to their children’s education and long-term prospects.

The aim of this rapid review is to appraise and report on the current available evidence of the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on UK parents and carers; as well as what can be done to mitigate some of the more harmful effects.