End of Week 1

As we end the first week of “lockdown”, I hope that you are all well and healthy.  I know this is a difficult time for all of us.  I know that fear and anxiety is at the forefront of every one’s mind.

Some of our children are just as scared as we are right now.  Our children not only can hear everything that is going on around them, but they feel tension and anxiety.  They have never experienced anything like this before.  Although the idea of being off school for weeks sounds awesome, they are probably picturing a fun time, like the summer holidays, not the reality of being trapped at home and not seeing their friends.

Over the coming weeks, you may see a change in some of the behaviour of your children.  Whether it is anxiety, or anger, or protest that they can’t do things normally – it will happen.  You may even see meltdowns, tantrums and oppositional behaviour in the coming weeks.  This is normal and expected under these circumstances.

What the children need right now is to feel comforted and loved.  To feel like it is all going to be ok.  Get them in the garden and go for a walk if you can. Let them draw and paint pictures. Play board games and watch films.  Start a book and read together as a family, or do absolutely nothing.

Don’t worry about them regressing in school.  Every single child is in the same boat and they will be alright.  When we are back in the classroom, we will all work hard and meet their needs (both academically and emotionally) from where they are.  Our staff are experts at this!  We are sending work to the website regularly
– it is not mandatory but we do hope that they keep up their learning up at home.

Our staff are feeling anxious and concerned too – they are experiencing the same emotions that you are.  They would love to hear from the children, so please use the school website to send a message to the staff – it would brighten up their day.  It may also help your child to have a sense of “normality” and ease their stress.(You can message the teachers via the class pages on the school website.  www.winshillvillage.org.uk)

If I can leave you with one thing, it’s this: at the end of all this (and it will end), your child’s mental wellbeing and health will be more important than their academic skills.  How they felt during this time will stay with them long after the memory of the “Lockdown of 2020”.

Look after each other and please keep in touch.

Miss Goodson