Primary school teachers are sounding the alarm over a worrying trend: children's attention spans have dramatically shortened since the pandemic. The impact of lockdowns and remote learning is still being felt, with nearly nine in ten teachers reporting a decline in pupils' ability to focus.
A survey by online resource Kapow Primary found that 84% of 504 primary and early years teachers agree that children's attention spans are now 'shorter than ever', while 69% have noticed an increase in inattention and daydreaming. Furthermore, 70% of teachers observed a deterioration in classroom behaviour, citing pupils being more prone to moving around, complaining of boredom, and provoking classmates.
Tiffnie Harris, a specialist from the Association of School and College Leaders, pointed out that these findings align with widespread reports of challenging behaviour from school leaders. She attributed this to the long-term impact of the pandemic's disruption on normal routines and expectations, exacerbated by rising mental health issues among children, the cost of living crisis affecting families, and pressures from social media. Harris urged the government to increase investment and support for schools and families to address these complex issues.
Teachers are now having to adapt their approaches to meet the changing needs of their pupils. The survey revealed that one in five teachers spends less than 10 minutes on average per activity, while a significant 85% believe social media's 'ever-swiping nature' has negatively influenced pupils' ability to focus.
A Derbyshire teacher highlighted the difficulties of transitioning from screen-based learning back to the classroom, noting challenges with social skills like turn-taking and an increased need for movement breaks. A Department for Education spokesperson stated that their strategy focuses on empowering schools to cultivate effective behaviour cultures tailored to their pupils and communities, citing updated behaviour guidance and the £10 million 'behaviour hubs' programme.