Here we go again…

So, once again, we are in lockdown.  And now, as well as overworked teachers and stressed parents, daunted by the prospect of homeschooling version 2, it is also school children, all over the country who are suffering as a result of Covid.  Just a few months after resuming a sort of normality, it has been pulled from under their feet and I imagine it must be nothing short of anxiety inducing, exacerbated further by the speed at which the news arrived, giving young people little to no time to process.  In addition to all learning moving online with immediate effect, GCSE and A Level exams have  also been cancelled for the second year in a row.

Whilst it’s clear how important it is for this to happen now and it is obviously a last resort, that doesn’t make it any easier.  Schools are undoubtedly high risk spaces for the virus which is currently spreading at an alarming rate and it doesn’t matter how hard staff and pupils work in order to try and keep everyone as safe as possible, they have been tasked with surely one of the most difficult situations to manage.  

However what makes me so upset is, once again, the handling of this crisis.  Just two days prior to Monday night’s announcement, we were told that schools were “safe” from closures and that there would only be a few weeks of disruption with all pupils returning by January the 18th.  But then, in another shambles, reminiscent of the Christmas U-turn just three weeks ago, Boris again went back on his previous message at the eleventh hour leaving young people and school staff feeling bewildered.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand the need for this decision but what I just can’t understand is the level of  disorganisation that meant that this couldn’t have been anticipated with slightly more foresight to make the blow easier to take?  Or perhaps it was just a case of denial?  Either way it doesn’t feel good enough.  I always strive to be optimistic but when I heard the news, as well as feeling sad for the millions of students now away from school for a minimum of six weeks, I also couldn’t help but think back to the monumental train wreck that was the exam results calculation last summer.  Let’s just pray that the government has learnt from their mistakes and do the best for our young people when the time comes for this year’s results.

And still, in all of this, no admission of error.  Does Boris not recognise that if he wants to regain any support or trust from the many who have now fully turned their back on him and his government, he needs to admit that he has made some poorly informed choices?  We are all human, we all make mistakes.  So why is it that politicians are so reluctant to admit when they have made errors and just try to rectify them?  I know I am not the only one feeling frustrated.

So my advice, for what it’s worth for young people to help them get through this exceptionally challenging time is this: Try to build a routine as best as you can, we all thrive on routine - try to find one that works for you.  Get plenty of sleep, you’re going to need it, but not so much that it becomes detrimental to your mental health.  And don’t forget about the power of naps. One of the most productive students I have ever taught revealed to me at the end of her two years in my class that she had a one hour nap every afternoon when she got in from school, it was her secret to success!  Stay connected, both to your friends and to your school and teachers - they’re here to support you.  If you have computer and internet access and you are given online check ins and lessons from school, please attend them, they will likely make you feel better.  Having completed six months of zoom teaching in the first lockdown I can honestly say that lesson time was the best part of my week and I have never experienced community and support quite like how it showed up in my classes during that time.  If you are a young person reading this and you don’t have access to a laptop, speak to your school as the government is providing extra laptops to distribute to those most in need.  Read, even if you are not yet a reader, there will be a book, a blog, an article that’s perfect for you somewhere.   And write, in any form.  Write a letter to a friend that you miss, write a story or just try journaling.  You will enjoy looking back on your writing during a more normal time when you will want to remember what you were up to in this mad time.  But above all, focus on what makes you feel happiest and do as much of that as you can. 

And if you or anyone you know needs support to talk through any concerns about anything, my inbox is open.  I will also help in any way that I can with teaching resources so please feel free to get in touch if you are a young person wanting help or a parent feeling frazzled from home schooling.

We are all in this together, we have done this before and we can do it again.  Be kind to yourself and remember that if you need support, don’t suffer in silence.  Here are some services that might be of help if this lockdown takes its toll on your mental health:

Samaritans - 116 123

CALM - 0800 58 58 58

Young Minds - 0800 018 2138

Child Line - 0800 1111

No Panic - 0844 967 4848

SANE - 0300 304 7000

Get Connected - 0808 808 4994