Covid: When will schools reopen? Decent' mental health service for children is a decade away, Child’s mental health symptoms.
With schools opening on the 8th March, we can finally let our mind ease as we prepare to get our education back to its normal state. As we all reflect on the current situation, the light moving forward is very appealing.
My name is Adrian Tuitt, Motivational Speaker, Youth Mentor and Sports Coach.
If you haven't already, you can read my last article here:
What must Boris Johnson consider before easing Covid lockdown? Experts 'deeply concerned' about the impact of Covid-19 on children's physical activity levels, Youth workers seek to rescue victims of violent crime at A&E
https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/boris-johnson-easing-covid-lockdown-impact-covid-19-childrens-tuitt/
Covid: When will schools reopen?
What is happening about exams?
In England, A-levels, AS levels and GCSE exams have been cancelled and teachers' estimated grades will be used instead.
Schools will be able to use a combination of mock exams, coursework and essays when deciding what grade to award.
Results will be published earlier in August to allow time to appeal.
Teachers' grades will also be used to replace written vocational exams. However, some practical exams will continue if they can be held in a Covid-safe way.
Primary school SATs will not go ahead this year, nor will phonics or timetable testing.
Scotland's Higher and Advanced Higher exams have been cancelled for 2021, with final grades to be based on teacher assessment. The National 5 exams have also been cancelled.
The Welsh government has cancelled GCSEs, AS and A-levels. Grades were going to be based on classroom assessments instead but will now be determined by teachers, based on evidence such as mock exams and coursework.
In Northern Ireland, no GCSE, AS and A-level examinations will go ahead this year. Schools will have to submit the grades they think pupils should be awarded at the end of May.
When are children returning to school in England?
All pupils can return to school from 8 March. Secondary schools are allowed to stagger the return over a week, to allow Covid testing to be carried out.
Students will be tested three times in the first two weeks and then two rapid tests to use each week at home.
Clubs for children in school buildings - both before and after normal school hours - will also be allowed to resume from 8 March.
Other children's school activities - such as sport - can also restart.
You can read the full article here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-51643556
Decent' mental health service for children is a decade away
According to the children’s commissioner we are at least a decade away from a comprehensive mental health service.
The UK is at least a decade away from having a comprehensive mental health service for children, according to the children’s commissioner.
Anne Longfield, the children’s commissioner for England, said there was a “chasm” between the services that were available for children and what they actually needed, adding that children’s mental health services were “the poor relation” in terms of NHS funding. Currently adults receive ￡225 per head while children receive just ￡92.
Ms Longfield has published her third annual briefing on child mental health.
It reveals that while the NHS has made progress on improving mental health services for children, the current system is far from adequately meeting the needs of thousands of mentally unwell children.
Read the full article here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/children-mental-health-nhs-service-treatment-england-a9308016.html
Child’s mental health symptoms
From insomnia to severe anxiety — how can parents spot the warning signs of mental health problems before it’s too late? Experts tell Katie Strick what to look for — and the resources that can help families.
Jill Cotton wonders how much of her daughters’ angst is normal, given the circumstances. Should she be worried that her usually active nine and six-year-old have become lethargic and withdrawn? Is it natural for them to say they’d rather be dead than do home-schooling?
At first, Cotton, a PR manager, thought it was sweet that her eldest, Bella, was playing with make-up over video calls with friends — since the lockdown she had regressed to playing with dolls again. Then Bella said she wanted a big bottom like the curvy women she and her friends were watching on YouTube.
“You try as much as you can as a parent to hide them from the badness of the world,” sighs Cotton, from their home in Kingston, south-west London. “But it’s so hard when [sites like YouTube] are her portal to the outside world.”
She is anxious for her youngest, too. “Edie often says horrible things like ‘Mummy, I feel so sad.’ It’s heartbreaking to hear and sometimes it leaves me wondering: how many times does a child need to say that, and in what way, before I need to start being concerned?”
Read Jill’s full story here: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/young-london-sos/young-london-sos-child-mental-health-suffering-warning-signs-b919830.html
Please feel free to like, comment or share.
Stay positive, stay focused, stay active!
The time is now!
Adrian Tuitt
Motivational Speaker, Youth Mentor and Sports Coach.