Keep schools open over future lockdowns to protect children, experts say 14/05/2021, 12:06 am Picture posed by a model of a teenage girl with her head in her hands (Gareth Fuller/PA) The Government must “strive to keep schools open” in the event of future lockdowns, a safeguarding body has said, as cases of child abuse and death jumped 27% during the first wave of coronavirus. In its second annual report, the Child Safeguarding Review Panel said it had received notifications of 482 serious incidents relating to 514 children last year. Local authorities must notify the panel, set up following the implementation of the Children and Social Work Act 2017, of the death or serious harm of a child in their area if they suspect it resulted from abuse or neglect.