As a director of children's services, the start of the new school year is always full of excitement and promise. There is a cautious attempt at normality this time round, but after the bewildering events of the last 18 months there are few certainties beyond the fact pupils' experiences have been, and will continue to be, very different.

This new beginning offers an opportunity to reflect on our priorities for children and young people following such a difficult period. The importance of children remaining in schools was clear for all to see during the height of the pandemic when the Government rightly ensured that schools were open for children of key workers and those who were seen as ‘vulnerable'.