VIP-CLEAR: Voices in a Pandemic: Children's Lockdown Experiences Applied to Recovery

Our proposal explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the learning, development, health and wellbeing of vulnerable, socially-disadvantaged children (Early Years: 3-5yrs; Primary: 5-11yrs) in England by capturing their voices and experiences. Their families live with multiple uncertainties, stresses and vulnerabilities, making these children more susceptible to COVID-19 impacts and highlighting deep societal inequalities. Our interdisciplinary research aims to: 1) gather and critically evaluate the worldviews, perceptions and experiences of socially-disadvantaged children during the COVID-19 response; 2) draw learning from the above to support their involvement in 'recovery'; 3) build anticipatory resilient capital from their experiences in preparation for future social shocks, including pandemics. We focus on multicultural Bristol, where we have well-established relationships with practitioners/stakeholders in children's learning, health and wellbeing. This will ensure meaningful co-production with local, regional and national partners (nursery centres, schools, Bristol City Council and Action for Children) for immediate translation of our findings in policy and practice at different scales. Our approach gathers and exchanges critical 'data' quickly: using creative, participatory 'daylighting' methodologies that are child-focused and multi-channel. Our methods interweave socially-engaged arts practice with social science to capture nuances and trends in children's voices and ensure their views are included. We will co-develop outputs tailored to different stakeholder needs: a unique archive of children's voices to inform recovery strategies; a primary school book to support children and professionals; and an extensive evidence-base to inform policy and practice around adaptation to future social and ecological shocks.