Coronavirus: supporting your child's return to school

Every child and young person is different and therefore their reactions to going back to school will be variable. There will be children and young people who will be ok with going back to school and will be happy and excited to be back with their friends. Others may find returning to school more difficult. They may be excited about seeing their friends but worried about how things may be different. They may be worried about being in a new class or school. They may feel sad about being away from their families once more. Some children and young people may be anxious about Covid-19. Some may have had difficulties in attending school prior to the school closures. The important thing is that children and young people need to be reassured that all feelings they have about returning to school (whether they are positive or negative) are normal and accepted.

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Practical ideas to support your child:

• Encourage your child to share their thoughts and emotions about returning to school and normalise and validate any feelings they might have. 'Wondering aloud' can be helpful, for example: "I wonder if you're feeling worried about going back to school because you've spent so long at home. I can understand why you would feel like that." Visual resources such as emotional thermometers can help to facilitate discussions.
• Model calmness – your child will take their lead from you and feel more reassured if you are calm when talking about their return to school.
• Provide reassurances - for example, some children and young people may be concerned about leaving parents/carers after having spent so long with them, so remind them that you will be looking forward to seeing them when they return from school and hearing about their day. Giving them a small item that reminds them of you or a note to keep in their school bag during the school day may be helpful to let them know that you are thinking about them.
• Prepare for the return to school – talk to your child about school, for example about new classrooms or key staff, and provide visuals, such as photos, where this is possible. Staff may be able to provide examples of these and/or example transition pack activities to aid these discussions. Talk to your child about the ways in which their school/classrooms may be different; for example, some schools are setting up 'bubbles'. Information about arrangements made by your child's school may be available on the school's website or could be provided by contacting the school directly. Discuss with your child who and where they can go to if they need help from an adult. For some children who will have a new teacher, it may be helpful for the teacher to speak to them before they return to school.
• Establish a clear morning routine at home in readiness for returning to school and consider having a calendar on display, showing the run up to the return to school.
• Be positive and thankful – help your child to think about all the things they are looking forward to when they return to school: being with their friends, seeing staff, school clubs, favourite lessons, etc. whilst being mindful that some of these things may not be available for them at this time.
• Encourage them to think about the things they can do to make themselves feel safer - such as washing their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds; trying to keep their hands away from their mouth, eyes and nose; listening to what the adults in school tell them to do.
• Maintain friendships – support your child in trying to safely maintain contact with their friends before they return to school, for example, through letters, videos, or phone calls. If your child struggles in terms of their social interactions/friendships, it would be helpful for parents/carers and staff to discuss interventions that could be used to support them in school, such as a buddy system.

It is important to recognise that there will be a period of adjustment whilst your child settles back into school. Should you have any concerns about how your child is settling back into school, it will be important to share your concerns with a key member of staff.

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Helping my child return to school after coronavirus: Guide

This guide anticipates some of the difficulties and anxieties that children may be feeling as they return to their childcare provider or reception class at school.

Advice for successful transitions reminds us to focus on relationships as well as recognising the growth, development and learning that has occurred while our children have been at home.

We should also remember that transition is not just an experience for the individual child but for everyone around the child.

Your child may be returning to the same room or classroom as before the lockdown, but things will be different and this should be supported as another key transition in your child’s life.

The childcare provider or school's key focus areas will be to support your child’s well-being, confidence, security and nurturing friendships. Happiness is the priority.

Both these guides give some tips and advice about how you might help your child through this transition and also supports the sharing of information so that we know what is important to you and your child. There is also a booklet that you can print off and work through with you child, dicussing their thoughts, feelings and expectations about returning to school.

Attendance at Lostock Hall Community Primary School

Attendance Staff
If we as a school have concerns regarding your child's attendance or punctuality, you will be contacted by Mrs Jackson, the school's attendance lead and in some cases, you may also be contacted by Mrs Brownley, our Headteacher.

If you wish to contact school to discuss your child's attendance or for support, please use the details below -

Mrs Jackson
Call: 01772 338289

Text: 07799944347

Email: ajackson@lostockhallcps.co.uk

Attendance HEROs

We want every single one of our children to be an Attendance Hero:

Here

Everyday

Ready

On time

Here at Lostock Hall Community Primary School, attendance is a whole school approach.

At the start of the term, each class choose a whole class reward they would like, such as:

Film and popcorn afternoon, iPad time, PE games etc, own clothes day etc.

Each Friday, all classes in KS1 and KS2 have an 'attendance race'.

The class with the highest attendance rate from each Key Stage moves along in the race and receives a class attendance certificate.

At the end of each half term, the class who is winning the race in each Key Stage wins their reward! 

Our attendance board

It is very important for your child regularly attends school and arrives on time.

You should create a routine that ensures your child arrives on time. This ensures your child feels included and does not miss important parts of the school day.

The school gates are open from 8:30am. Children should enter school through the school gates, not through the office.
The whistle is blown at 8:50am and the classroom doors are open for children to enter until they close at 9am.

After this, children are to come through the office to be signed in by their accompanying adult.

You must accompany your child in to the office to sign them in,

do not leave them to enter the office on their own.
 
Be Here Everyday Ready On time!