Whilst recognising that school closure was a necessary part of controlling the pandemic, there was clear consensus among witnesses to the committee that the impact of not being at school on the well-being of very many children was very significant indeed. Hefin David has just described his own experience and his children’s experience very clearly, and others across Wales will have faced all sorts of challenges. The view of the witnesses to the committee was that priority should be given to ensuring the safest possible face-to-face contact between children and young people in schools. This highlights the importance of that special relationship between a pupil and a teacher and the experience of learning together, and how crucially important that is to education ultimately. Therefore, the announcement on the reopening in September for all children is sure to be welcomed by parents, by children and young people, but also by those witnesses who appeared before our committee when we were discussing these issues. And it will also be welcomed by the children’s commissioner.

But, of course, with a very real possibility of a second wave, it is crucially important that we learn lessons as a result of the challenges recently faced in trying to agree on arrangements for the return of our children to school. We must put the needs of the child or young person at the heart of everything and it’s crucial that we continue to make improvements to remote learning and remote connectivity and deal with the digital divide in case we do need to close all schools again, or to close schools in particular parts of the country at particular times. This too is particularly pertinent in the FE sector, and narrowing the digital divide in that sector has become something that clearly needs to be addressed.

In the committee’s report, 'Mind over matter', the crucial role of schools in terms of mental health and well-being is identified and this is true now more than ever. Before the arrival of the pandemic, the guidance that we had called for and the whole-school approach to dealing with emotional and mental health were being prepared. During our initial inquiry into the impact of COVID we did call for the publication of that guidance for consultation as a matter of priority, in order to ensure that support for the mental and emotional health of our children could be a significant part of their education. I am pleased to see that the guidance has now been published on 8 July and that it is now out to consultation until the end of September, but I do hope that the core principles will be adopted way before then.

It’s clear from the evidence that the committee received that we need to be careful and cautious as to how we weigh up the impact of COVID on the mental health of our children and young people, and to acknowledge that there are certain aspects, such as anxiety, stress and loneliness, that are natural responses to the challenges and risks that have emerged as a result of the pandemic. On the other hand and at the other extreme, Samaritans Cymru did tell the committee that it is too early for data to demonstrate exactly what impact the pandemic has had on suicide levels, and that we do need to very closely monitor those factors that can contribute to the risk of suicide.

As the committee Chair has already mentioned, what has become apparent is that it is very important now in this ensuing period that our children and young people know to whom they can turn for advice and support. That has become apparent because the schools and surgeries haven’t been available to them in the same way so that they can point them in the right direction towards the support that they need.

It’s therefore important that our recommendations—and returning again to the committee’s important report, 'Mind over matter'—it’s important that the recommendations on the gaps in services for children and young people and those who are described as the ‘missing middle’, those children and young people who don’t qualify for CAMHS services but can’t access other support, low-level support either—it’s so important now that those services are put in place and that they are properly funded during this next period as we deal with the pandemic.

I’ve focused on just two aspects of the report, but I would also like to thank everyone who gave evidence and contributed to our work at such a worrying time, and at a time when the picture is changing so exceptionally quickly. And I do think that we all need to monitor and keep a close eye on the impact of the pandemic on our children and young people over the summer holidays, and into the autumn and over these next years, indeed. Thank you very much.