COVID-19: Support for primary schools
Supporting children’s wellbeing as they return to school: Ideas, resources and activities
Many children will have experienced trauma as a result of the Coronavirus, whether due to separation, anxiety or bereavement. The following document provides advice and suggested resources/activities that will help schools promote children’s emotional wellbeing when we transition out of the lockdown:
Children’s Mental Health Week
The theme of Children’s Mental Health Week 2021 is ‘Express Yourself’. We have produced a short video for primary aged children telling a story about ‘The importance of expressing our feelings and connecting with others to support good mental health’. To access this video please click here. Alternatively parents/carers/school staff can read the story to children themselves and access the PowerPoint here: Story for KS1 and KS2.
We have also produced some activities to help children express and share their feelings in creative ways. These can be delivered through remote teaching with minimal materials required: Primary school activities (CMHW)
Rainbows Bereavement Support Programme
The Catholic Children’s Society can provide online training for school staff so they can run the Rainbows Bereavement Support Programme for pupils who have experienced a bereavement, or other significant loss in their lives. The training provides staff with a comprehensive understanding of bereavement and loss and gives them the ability to provide structured support for pupils experiencing these issues. Please click here for further details.
Silver Linings: How to facilitate support groups for pupils impacted by Coronavirus
Rainbows Bereavement Support GB have produced resources to help schools run peer support groups for pupils aged 7 – 11 who have been impacted by the Coronavirus Crisis. These resources can be downloaded below: