As we say goodbye to 2021, we begin to look ahead to the New Year with some trepidation as we navigate our way through the ongoing pandemic.
Covid-19 has truly turned our world’s upside down, causing much disruption amongst the education community here in the UK over the past two years.
However, during this year we’ve seen remarkable advances in our healthcare system which can only be commemorated. Alongside the roll-out of the vaccine, schools welcomed the government announcement of a further cash injection into the education budget for lost learning and safety supplies.
As we start back on the bumpy road to recovery, the team at Paper Plus have been gathering their thoughts and pooled together their predictions for the education market in 2022.
- Teacher Retention & Staffing
It’s been clear to anyone with any interest in the education sector (whether you’re a teacher, supplier or parent), that schools and nurseries are facing a large staffing crisis. Shortages are being seen across all types of roles, from cafeteria workers to bus drivers; there has been a significant problem in retaining and recruiting staff for the education market.
A survey conducted in March 2021 by EdWeek Research Centre saw > 50% of teachers voted when asked whether they’d leave their profession, that they were somewhat or very likely to do so. With staff shortages, teachers are commonly being asked to take on more responsibility, causing excessive stress on those individuals supporting our front line.
According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, an increase in salary is needed to avoid recruitment and retention issues. However, staff is the biggest expense to most schools according to the recent Spending Guide from Buzz Education so it’s a heavy consideration for most, even with the financial support from the government.
We expect and hope to see strategies for retaining staff develop further over 2022 and for suppliers to also do their part in supporting these new schemes.
- A Focus on Mental Wellbeing
The pandemic has had a huge impact on mental health; not only in adults but also in our children and young adults. A survey conducted by Young Minds showed that 75% of respondents found the third lockdown hardest to cope with and 67% believed that the pandemic will have long-term negative effects on their mental health.
It’s clear from the overwhelming evidence out there that many of our youngsters suffered greatly due to the pandemic. That’s why the government announced in the Spring Budget 2021 a provision of £500 million to expand the mental health services across the UK with a larger proportion of that budget (£79 million) going towards schools.
It’s certainly a positive step towards supporting schools transition children back to the classroom and will continue to support them during and following the pandemic.
We expect mental wellbeing to be a huge focus for teachers and parents in 2022 and beyond, which we fully welcome. New Mental Health Support Teams or Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs will become an integral part of school life.
- Furniture Projects
Throughout 2021 Paper Plus saw more customers than ever begin new developments and refurbishment projects. Perhaps with the Covid financial support now in place, schools can focus on their long-term development plans which includes the education environment.
We expect to see this trend continue into 2022 as schools are able to commit more of their time and budget to larger developments that support students returning to the classroom.
Paper Plus has its own experienced furniture and projects division that can support schools, nurseries and colleges in their refurbishments. Working with suppliers, designers and our customers, the team are able to develop simple and complex solutions for their needs.
- Getting Students Back on Track
The term ‘lost learning’ has been used a lot in the education community since Covid-19 sent students home from school. So, for those who are not familiar with this term, let’s explain.
During the pandemic, schools closed and students had to adapt to remote learning through online classrooms. According to a McKinsey survey, the majority of teachers polled said that the remote learning experience was a poor substitute for being back in the classroom. Although remote learning has likely improved over the past couple of years, it’s clear that many students have paid a heavy price by falling behind in their studies. This isn’t something seen just in the UK, it’s something that has been identified globally.
Lost learning can be months or even years for children and as a result 2022 will see a significant amount of funding set aside for schools to mitigate this loss and help get students back on track.
- Blended Learning – The New Role of Tech in the Classroom
Teachers were forced to move learning online during the last two years. Whilst this has had some negative effects on young adults and children across the UK, it has also opened up a door for new creative learning methods that incorporate digital tools.
Although most teachers have agreed that sole remote learning is not a good enough replacement for classroom learning, the new role of technology in education has definitely provided an avenue of opportunity to bring in tools that can work alongside teachers to enhance learning.
We are already seeing schools equipping students with new technology such as learning tablets which can be used at home and in the classroom. We imagine this blended learning approach will continue to grow in 2022, however learning loss and mental wellbeing should still remain a top priority for all schools.
Paper Plus looks forward to 2022, leaving behind another interesting year living and working through the pandemic. We look forward to supporting our customers in the New Year with their new schemes, projects and developments to get students back on track.
