A Message from our LPAP Educational Psychologist

These are times we have never seen before, and so no-one has the answers. Parents haven’t chosen to educate their children at home, and so expectations of what can be achieved should be realistic.  The most important thing at the moment is that children and their parents are physically and mentally healthy and able to manage a very difficult and anxious time.

Parents and schools need to keep in mind that all children are different. Some children may need lots of routine and structure and may feel uncomfortable if they are not doing work and ‘keeping up’; others may be more anxious and need lots of reassurance and non-educational distraction activities. Some will work better in the morning, some later in the day. Some will need to be doing everything and then resting, others having lots of short breaks. Parents too need different things: they need a break from the children, time to work, time to manage their own anxieties, time to connect with friends and families.  There is a lot of advice on line, but no ‘one size fits all’. Parents are the experts in their own child(ren), so working with them to help them find the best way forward as a family is important, not doing what they think others are.

It is also very important to remember that this is crisis time, and it is not surprising that adults and children are feeling anxious, sad or frightened. These are normal reactions to such a difficult situation. Children may also be feeling fine and happier that they are not at school. If possible, having time to ‘check in’, and allow everyone to say how they are feeling is helpful, and sometimes knowing they can do that and that they will get a reassuring chat or a hug is enough for children.

Talking to Children about COVID-19

• Allow children to ask questions: It is natural that children will have questions and worries about Coronavirus. Giving them the space to ask these questions and have answers is a good way to ease anxiety.
• Younger children might understand a cartoon or picture better than an explanation.
• It is ok to say you don’t know - at the moment, there are questions we don’t have answers to about Coronavirus.
• Maybe your child has an idea too – let them tell you or draw them.
• Try to manage your own worries: Uncertainty can make all of us feel anxious or worried. Identify other adults you can talk to about your own worries. Use techniques that help to make you feel a bit calmer - if you are at home, music, breathing and relaxation techniques, distraction (such as watching something funny), and time with family can all help.
• Give practical guidance: Remind your child of the most important things they can do to stay healthy but find motivation for keeping going, like thinking of a song they want to sing while washing their hands).

To support you and your family in this period of school closure, we will be providing daily tasks (Monday – Friday) that your child can complete; one English, one Maths and one EOW. These tasks will be uploaded onto the class pages on the school website under the Children’s tab and on Tapestry for Foundation Stage. These tasks will be uploaded from Tuesday 24th  March.

We will send home Power Maths books with the children (Year 1 – Year 6). Please can we ask that you wait for instructions via the class pages on which unit and lessons to complete. We will provide parents with guidance on how to use these books.

KS1 and Foundation Stage children will be given an exercise book that they can use to record any competed work, KS2 children can use their homework books. If the task is a practical one you could record with a photograph, drawing or brief comment but it is not an expectation.

Please continue with:

• Reading every day to an adult/ discussing what they have read with an adult
• EYFS & KS1 Practise phonics skills
• Year 2 to Year 6 practise their recall of multiplication facts
• Complete any ‘Three In a Row’ Homework tasks already set

Additionally

• KS1 children can access Bug Club
• Y34 children can access Purple Mash

There are other ways you can develop your child’s skills during this time e.g.

• playing board games/card games – these develop social and communication skills and often use mathematical recall and thinking
• cooking – weighing out ingredients, following recipes
• using maps (paper and digital) to locate places in the news
• art and craft activities – you can give specific tasks or let their creative side run free!
• research personal topics of interest
• get out in the garden – play games, do some gardening etc.
• listening to and making music

We do not officially recommend any websites but below are some you could access with your child also in the parent’s section on our website there are useful links related to phonics and the Maths calculation policies.