Coronavirus daily round-up: Monday 18 May
Fiona Simpson
Monday, May 18, 2020
Teachers’ unions have renewed calls for the government to ensure the safety of pupils and staff ahead of the reopening of schools in two weeks’ time.
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Each day, CYP Now will summarise the key issues affecting the children and families sector as it tackles the effects of the pandemic. The daily update signposts children’s services practitioners and leaders to the latest developments, expert views, advice and resources.
Row continues over reopening of schools
Teachers’ unions have issued fresh calls to the government to ensure the safety of teachers and pupils if schools are to begin to reopen on 1 June.
The calls come following a weekend of dispute over whether it is safe for nursery children and pupils in reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to go back to classrooms in two weeks’ time.
The British Medical Association sided with unions over concerns while children’s commissioner for England Anne Longfield demanded an end to “squabbling” over the issue as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson explained the decision at a press conference on Saturday.
Today, Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ union, said: “The NASUWT welcomes the secretary of state’s commitment to discuss a way forward which will help to ensure that schools can reopen safely to more children.
“Schools are looking to the government for clear and unequivocal guidance on the health and safety measures they will need to have in place prior to reopening.
“The bottom line is that no teacher or child should be expected to go into schools until it can be demonstrated that it is safe for them to do so.”
Charities warn over ‘devastating impact’ of Covid-19 on children’s services
Two new reports, published this month by Action for Children, National Children’s Bureau, NSPCC, The Children’s Society and Barnado’s, warn of the “devastating” impact caused by coronavirus to services following a decade of “crisis-driven firefighting” by councils.
The group says already overstretched children's services could struggle to cope with a predicted spike in demand once the coronavirus crisis has ended and the full extent of the pandemic is realised.
The group is calling on the government to deliver a package of rescue funding for councils, some of which are already spending financial reserves to support children’s services provision.
Call for focus on outdoor education
Seventeen leading governing bodies and associations involved in boosting outdoor education have united to set out a plan to help schools adapt lessons and learning environments as they reopen to more pupils.
The consortium, facilitated by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) with the support of the Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel and the Institute of Outdoor Learning, has set out three ways to support schools by helping them enable high quality learning experiences in school grounds, local spaces and home environments, and to support pupils transition between these different learning environments.
Dr Anne Hunt, chief executive of the CLOtC, said: “Children and young people are dealing with high levels of disruption, uncertainty and a lack of physical connection with their friends and with the natural world and the inequalities are widening.
"There are few so well-evidenced interventions that offer – with almost universal availability and at very low cost - the immediate opportunity to make such a big difference to so many children and young people. With government encouraging time outdoors as part of our recovery strategies, now is the time to take learning outside the classroom.’’
New helpline supports care leavers amid pandemic
A new helpline specifically for young adults who have been in care has been launched by the charity Family Action.
The new service, Listening Works, runs seven days per week from 6pm-midnight as part of the charity’s Friendship Works mentoring service and has been set up with the help of care-experienced adults.
Specially trained volunteers, including staff from across Family Action, will deliver support via telephone, text and web chat, the charity said.
The line will support those aged between 18 and 27 who have been in local authority care.
Charities promote ‘kindness’ on Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental health charities supporting children and young people have published rafts of resources to help promote the theme of ‘kindness’ during Mental Health Awareness Week.
The Mental Health Foundation has shared a series of guides about talking about kindness and mental health and is sharing tips for parents and carers to open up conversations about mental health with young people.
The #MentalHealthMinute just connected over 20 million people across the country for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek💙
— Heads Together (@heads_together) May 18, 2020
Take this moment to reach out to someone – let them know how you’re feeling, and ask them how they are too. Because we're all connected and you are not alone.
Meanwhile, a message from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, singer Dua Lipa and sports stars Anthony Joshua and Harry Kane promoting the week, which runs until 24 May, was played across the UK’s radio stations at 10.59am to more than 20 million listeners.
