Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman has urged schools to bring back clubs and sports “in full force” as pupils return this term.

She said she hoped these activities could return as schools got back to operating with more normal routines from this month.

Ms Spielman also said that, if schools are asked to run a longer school day, they should use the time to run extracurricular activities.

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Schools are no longer expected to operate in bubbles and the need for social distancing has also been removed as Covid restrictions have been relaxed.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Ms Spielman said: “It’s great to see children back at school. But there is clearly a long road ahead before children catch up on all the learning they have missed.

“Children have had their lives turned upside down by the pandemic.

Ofsted boss urges schools to focus on extracurricular activities

“Academic catch-up is crucial, but alone it’s not enough to help them recover all that they’ve lost.

“With rising health concerns among children, it is even more important that all extracurricular activities return as soon as possible.”

The chief inspector said that halting extracurricular activities has meant pupils have lost out on learning “the soft skills” such as listening to others, speaking well and problem solving.

Ms Spielman said that, as children go back to more normal routines, she hoped these activities will return “in full force”.

“One of the best things about school is being able to try out new things, whether that’s playing in the football team, learning to play the drums or joining the chess club,” she said.

“Activities beyond the classroom inspire children to be part of a team, compete with others and give them a sense of pride.

“For some, they help overcome shyness or a lack of confidence. I recognise that caution is still necessary, and that teachers have a lot to grapple with.

“But the possibility of a longer school day gives schools extra time to restore children’s enjoyment of the activities they once loved.”

Extending the school day had been expected to be at the centre of the government’s plan for education recovery from the Covid pandemic.

However, it was not included in a major announcement earlier this year - leading to the resignation of the government’s education recovery commissioner, Sir Kevan Collins.

The £1.4 billion fund announced in June was around a tenth of what Sir Kevan believed was needed.

The government said at the time that it would review the benefits of extending the school day and that the findings from this will be set out later in the year to inform the government’s spending review.

Tes asked Ofsted whether Ms Spielman was calling for all schools to have an extended day, or saying that schools should use any extra time from lengthened days for extracurricular activities. A spokesperson said it was the latter.