30/03/2026
The Government has responded to the Covid‑19 Inquiry’s Module 2 report and has chosen not to introduce statutory Child Rights Impact Assessments in England. This is a concerning step, especially given how often children were overlooked in decision making during the pandemic.
Module 2 examined how major decisions were made, what evidence informed them and whether existing systems protected the public. For children, the Inquiry found clear failings. Their needs, rights and experiences were not consistently considered, and the consequences were significant.
Just for Kids Law contributed evidence to this part of the Inquiry with Save the Children UK. We saw how often children were treated as an afterthought, and we strongly supported the recommendation to make CRIAs a legal requirement so children are properly considered from the start.
The Government’s decision not to take this forward is deeply disappointing.
Why this mattersâť“
School closures, service disruptions and isolation had a devastating impact on children. The Inquiry found that the Government did not adequately assess the consequences for children and did not communicate clearly with them. Statutory CRIAs would help ensure these mistakes are not repeated, offering a practical and transparent way to centre children in policymaking.
Our responseđź“Ł
Louise King, Co‑Lead at Just for Kids Law, said:
“The Covid‑19 Inquiry has laid bare how deeply children were affected during the pandemic, and how preventable much of that harm was. The recommendation for statutory CRIAs was one of the Inquiry’s clearest solutions to ensure that children’s rights are placed firmly at the centre of government decision making. Rejecting this measure is a missed opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the past and to build a more resilient, child focused policy framework for the future.”
We will continue advocating for stronger legal protections for children’s rights, including full incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
What happens nextâť“
We are working with Save the Children UK, UNICEF UK, NSPCC and wider partners to consider next steps and to ensure lessons from the pandemic lead to real change. Further updates will follow.
