Wellbeing scheme planned to help children return to school

The “Back 2 School” programme will be available free to all primary schools to manage the return to the classroom.

Heads Up Kids, founded by Norwood consultants Andy Hugh and Claire Godley, has already been working for a year with Pajes to train teachers on how to nurture pupils’ wellbeing.

“It is a ten-day process that will give children the opportunity to process what’s happened to them and get used to the changes,” Mrs Hugh said.

“We recognise that children’s experiences over the past weeks are going to be hugely different. Some will have had a terrible time at home with their parents having financial difficulties, or with family members falling ill or passing away.

“At the other end of the spectrum, mum and dad will have been available for the children and they would have done wonderful baking or gone on family bike rides.

“Schools know their children well and will have a sense of what has been going on. Nevertheless, there are always children who slip through the net and this process highlights the children who need more support.”

At the same time, talking through their experiences could help pupils appreciate how they dealt with difficulty and foster resilence.

Rabbi Meyer said parents realised the “exceptionally challenging situation. By working together, we will find effective solutions that ensure the needs of our children are met.”