Pupils' mental health more important than academic work when schools reopen, say charities

Pupils arrive at Kelso High School on the Scottish Borders as schools in Scotland start reopening
PA
Anna Davis @_annadavis24 August 2020

Teachers must prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of pupils when they return to school instead of focusing on catching up academically, leading children’s charities said today.

Sam Royston, of the Children’s Society, said: “A safe return to school should be a top priority for the Government, but once back in the classroom, children’s wellbeing and safety must be prioritised alongside catching up on their education.”

Although some vulnerable children had the opportunity to go to school during lockdown alongside key workers’ children, some of the most hard-to-reach pupils did not attend.

There are fears that many children will not have picked up a pen or book for six months. Headteachers are bracing themselves for an influx of children needing counselling or feeling anxious after a traumatic lockdown.

The charity Coram Life Education, which provides relationships, health, wellbeing and drugs education to almost half a million children, has created an online toolkit for teachers to support pupils’ mental health as they adjust to the new “Covid-proof” school environment.

Managing director Harriet Gill said: “It is more important than ever that we put children’s mental health and wellbeing at the forefront of their return.

Dr John Simmonds, director of Policy, Research and Development at CoramBAAF, the adoption and fostering charity, said:

“Schools must also be fully informed and resourced to understand and help children where serious levels of stress have influenced their welfare and wellbeing.”

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