Case studies/best practice
Mental health support for schools
0Teachers and school staff can feel that they are responsible for every aspect of a child’s development. That school goes beyond the need to educate has perhaps never been more evident than during the current crisis. However, schools can’t do it all on their own. Suzanne O’Connell suggests that help could be on its way. Summary School-based counselling could be one method of supporting students who have mental health issues.Place2Be provides a range of mental health services for schools.The government has made a commitment to increasing the support available to schools, including through an increase in mental health support teams.…
The way forward for parental engagement
0Now schools have re-opened, it is time to review and build upon relationships with parents. Matt Bromley provides his advice on how schools might focus on four key principles to ensure effective engagement. Summary Communication with parents must be maintained and regular, setting out expectations clearly.The principle of starting early will be even more important this year for those pupils who are transferring between schools.Your parental engagement policy is a key document to help ensure effective and consistent practice. All pupils in England returned to school during the week commencing 8 March 2021 following a third national lockdown due to…
The shadow pandemic: Domestic abuse and children during Covid-19
0As people were urged to stay at home to be safe, this was quite the opposite case for many women and their children. Whilst the pandemic has played out, the stories of those kept captive with their aggressors has yet to be heard. Elisabeth Carney-Haworth explains how Operation Encompass is trying to help and what resources are available to schools. Summary The response to Covid-19 has confined children with the perpetrators of abuse.Operation Encompass launched their Covid-19 plan to ensure the continued sharing of information relating to domestic abuse in the home.A national teachers’ helpline is available to provide support…