Young people across West Dunbartonshire are dis-engaging with school and turning to anti-social behaviour activities as a result of the pandemic, according to education officers.
Steps are being taken by the council to prevent children from turning to this type of crime through their nurtured Development and Improvement Group (DIG) which aims to ensure that all children have the best start in life.
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By working in partnership with the education services, Working 4U and Y-Sort-It, the council hopes to support young people at secondary school who are most at risk of dis-engaging from mainstream education.
An update was brought before the community planning board on Thursday morning.
Laura Mason, chief education officer, said: “Because of the pandemic we are seeing more young people disengaged with school which can not only impact on mental health but their involvement in anti-social behaviour.
“We are working with education services, Working 4U, YSort it and other partners and have created a programme targeted at S3 to S6 [to prevent this].
“We hope this will keep West Dunbartonshire’s children in West Dunbartonshire longer and that they don’t go down that path where we don’t have an appropriate curriculum to meet their needs.
“Everyone is working hard to try and move on from the pandemic but we need to know what is happening in our communities to our children and families.”
Concerns have also been raised about the effect Covid-19 is having on poverty as well as the attainment gap.
Ms Mason continued: “Across education, the health and social care partnership and all our partners, our plans are having to remain flexible in order to address the impact of recent times especially in terms of poverty.
“We are seeing these impacts in child development, attainment and achievement and more families needing help across a range of areas.
“Our health services continue to make sure the care experience of children and young people is suitable and they have access to mental, physical and dental health care.
“We are continuing our partnership working to improve approaches to early identification of neglect. Recently people are more aware of that.”
Updates will continue to be brought before the committee as and when they arise.
