These past few months have been tough and confusing in terms of how we are going to move forward within the education sector, whilst ensuring children and young people’s best interest are at the heart of any decisions made.
Government guidance, in terms of the necessary steps to be put into place to enable all students to return to school, has sometimes felt that they have changed on a daily basis and therefore can cause further anxieties or frustration.
Schools have remained open for keyworker pupils throughout the coronavirus lockdown and school staff have been working tirelessly to put the recommended practices into place so more children can return to school safely and this remains to be an ongoing process.
More recently, the Government announced an education ‘catch up plan’ to aid this process, putting a secure foundation in place and getting all children back to school. We will not allow an entire generation to lose out on their education as stated by BBC in this article .
Despite all that schools are doing, the long gap in education will have an impact on children and young people; on their learning, development and wellbeing which will be a concern for parents and carers. Communication is therefore more important than ever. It’s understandable that any parent would be worried about their child’s education and impending return to school. Parents need to know the school understands their apprehensions and feel reassured that their school is doing its very best given the current challenging circumstances.
The easiest, yet most effective way, would be creating a regular digital newsletter designed for parents and carers to keep them up to date with the latest news; what procedures are in place as schools welcome pupils at start the ‘new normal’ academic year and the continuing steps in line with Government advice.
In addition to communicating key information to parents, sharing positive stories, uplifting images and children’s work via social media or website updates can help to encourage a sense of community. Staff blogs and getting pupils involved to talk about their experiences is a great way to engage with the wider school community, bringing smiles to people’s faces and boosts a feeling of hope.
If your school requires any additional support with its communication, whether it be via the website, social media or even video production, One Education are here to help. Find out more about what we offer here.
