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The LGA said councils are bracing themselves for a rise in referrals for support that would have normally been made when children were being seen regularly by social workers and health workers. Some children and families will need significant interventions, including child protection plans or even coming into the care system. But for many, they will just need some extra help to get through a difficult period. That could be low level mental health support, sessions with a youth worker, understanding how to support children showing difficult behaviours, or working through parental conflict.

"We call on the Government to use the forthcoming Spending Review to fully resource children’s social care to ensure every child can be found a loving, stable home, whatever their needs.”

"Equality of access to laptops and the internet for online learning have been an issue for pupils, while the closure of schools will have an impact on all children."

“As the impact of the coronavirus pandemic becomes apparent, more children, young people and their families are likely to need support."

"It is vital that the Government urgently takes action to increase the availability of homes for young people with complex or challenging needs and provides funding and support to councils to ensure that they are able to give these young people the safe, nurturing homes they deserve."

“Childhood obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges we face and this report is another stark reminder of the urgent need for radical action to combat this."

The number of children referred to children’s social care services for support fell by almost a fifth during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown between April and June.

Up to a third of local areas in England risk being oversubscribed for secondary school places within five years leaving almost 80,000 young people and their families at risk of missing out on a place.

"We are calling on the Government to provide an urgent injection of funding to protect childcare providers at risk of closure as a result of the pandemic."

“The Government needs to use the forthcoming Spending Review to properly resource all early years settings to ensure that we can make a significant difference to the attainment gap.”