This Covid pandemic has been so tough on my children. The first time the schools were closed we really thought it wouldn’t last more than a few weeks. We had a ton of books picked up from the school and the kids were each designated a box of study materials which we kept behind the settee. (Luckily, I’d just purchased some new storage boxes!) This was our new classroom.
The girls were pretty rubbish. I was there to help but they didn’t want it. They spent most of the time on BBC Bitesize which was something at least. The Little Man was different, his teacher checked in every day with a pile of work for him to complete and she checked it. I had to sit and work with him. It was easier for us because only a couple of years earlier we’d spent a few months home schooling while he was in-between schools.
Back To School Last September.
The return to school didn’t go so well. It was a hard decision as I still didn’t feel safe. I was in hospital the first week back and the girls were suffering from anxiety. It was a little easier for the Little Man who was excited to be back but not happy with the new set up in school.
The girl’s ended up going back part time with extra learning at home, which they didn’t do. The cases of Covid starting rising again, and the girl’s school were really supportive. Just a few months later and the schools were closed again.
This time all the learning was online. The girls were given Chromebooks specifically for their work and online lessons and had to be up and logged on as if at school. They hated it.
The Little Man did Teams classes with his teacher and worked really hard. He got up, logged on and joined in. We even managed to get dressed most days.
The girls fell behind and even though I tried to help them catch up, they just couldn’t get used to working from home. But, they didn’t want to go back to school either.
Back to School Again
When the school’s re-opened the Little Man was back and happy. He was prepared this time for the restrictions and he just wanted to get off the settee and into the classroom. His school was amazing and they had no class or year closures because of Covid. Whereas the girl’s school had closures every week.
The girl’s didn’t want to go back so the school made arrangements for them to spend time in SEND instead. This meant a smaller classroom with fewer pupils and good social distancing. Masks were worn at all times. They went in late and came home early to avoid the other pupils. Both of them had anxiety which was through the roof.
The anxiety was much more than Covid, it was a real fear of being back at school.
Star is now doing her GCSE exams which are not really exams, but are. I don’t know, the whole thing is crazy and I’m not sure anyone really knows what is happening. But at the end of it, she has applied for a college course which will allow her to re-do any GCSEs she fails, so we are not too worried. She has age on her side being the youngest in her year. She’s not even 16 yet. Things will get better, when she goes to college she will still have support and she will be working with animals which is perfect for her.
Boo has two more years of school to go so we had to sort something out. I went to the school for a meeting and we have come up with a plan. Fingers very tightly crossed.
Boo is moving classes, because she has lost so much learning they are putting her in the lower class for children with learning difficulties. In all honesty, Boo has always had learning difficulties anyway but has somehow managed to stay in one of the upper classes (Second from top) because of her hard work and trying to keep up. However, because of her lost learning, this just isn’t feasible anymore.
She was really upset about this at first, but then she was told the names of some of the students in the class and she brightened up. She was really good friends with three of the girls in primary school. (They have even been to our home.) Also, this means that she will be very capable of doing the work set for her, and hopefully, in time she will work her way up again. With her confidence built by actually being in school, I’m sure her work will improve.
So, next week, she will go to school the same time as the other children, but instead of lining up, she will enter the school in a different place and go straight to her classroom. She will be coming home at lunch time up until half term, but if all goes well she will return full time afterwards.
It’s a great relief for all of us. The school has been told they don’t have to wear masks from Monday, but Boo’s class can still wear them if they feel more comfortable. These are the school’s most vulnerable children so they are being taken care of well. She is one step above SEND, but not in the class of disruptive children. I’m hoping this goes well for her. I’ve seen her smile a lot more in the last few days.
It’s been a really tough time for children trying to keep up with school online and missing seeing their friends. I think we’re all ready for a bit of normality but it sound like your girls’ school has been really supportive. I hope that they don’t have to deal with any more disruptions.
#MMBC
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This past year has been so tough on the kids. My youngest mostly hated the home learning. It was hard work and I was glad when she went back to school.
I really do feel for your girls. Anxiety is no fun at all. I hope everything works out for them OK. I am sure it will. x
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