Development of babies affected by the pandemic, young children as well

Children wearing masks and shields wait in a line at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port. Children turning two will have been surrounded by adults wearing masks for their whole lives and have therefore been unable to see lip movements or mouth shapes as regularly. – Photo: Reuters

The chief inspector of Ofsted, Britain's education standards watchdog, has said she is "particularly worried” about young children’s development, with the latest reports on education recovery showing some babies are struggling to understand facial expressions following the pandemic.

Amanda Spielman said it is clear that the pandemic has created "some lingering challenges.”