South Milford Moments
Weekly News Friday 27.3.20
Dear all,
What a surreal week it has been! It has been hard for all of us to adapt to new situations and ways of working. There has been much media coverage about how parents are supporting children’s learning at home, and as always there are examples of those who are doing it with ease and those who are struggling. I personally fall into the latter group - my own children are very reluctant to engage in any learning and have both expressed a desire to be back at school rather than at home learning with me!
Teaching is the most brilliant profession but it is HARD. Parenting is also very HARD. Put the two together, combine in siblings and not being able to leave the house and it all gets so MUCH HARDER. So a few tips and comments which may or may not help – they are not meant to be patronising in any way:
Firstly, we genuinely sympathise with the plethora of difficulties that you may face as a parent during this challenging time. You may be working, you may be delivering online content yourself, you may have younger children, or a combination of all of these factors. Of course, you and other family members may also be ill. We really do understand.
This is not home schooling. This is an unprecedented emergency situation impacting the whole world. Let's keep perspective. Home schooling is a choice, where you consider, you plan for it and you are your child's school teacher in whatever form you choose. The situation that we all find ourselves in is not home schooling.
Do the best you can, try to get a routine in the day and go for ‘little and often’ rather than giving up!
Education staff find home learning hard too! It is NOT the same teaching your own kids.
Don’t try and completely fill a child’s day, they need down time as do you; primary aged pupils ALL need time to play – perhaps you do too!
Don’t set yourselves up to ‘fail’ over time with timetables which are too lengthy (beyond the school day) or that your child might get bored with!
Staff are here to help - either email them via your child’s class email address or contact admin@sm.starmat.uk and they will forward the message to the most relevant person
Any sort of exercise or activity during the day will help with not just physical health, but everyone’s mental health too.
Keep expectations realistic. You know your child best and whether it is working little and often, or doing more of the academic tasks in the morning rather than later in the day; choose a strategy that works for all of you and also works around your work patterns.
This could also be an opportunity to engage in so many other areas of life skills that don’t involve always sitting in front of a screen. Many families will now be spending more time together in each other’s company. Let’s treasure and make the most of that time. Share the duties – cooking, tidying – skills for life. Enjoy some family time – perhaps even perfect that jigsaw, learn an instrument, learn a language together!
Finally, you are doing enough. You are loving your children and supporting them through a
difficult time. Look after yourself. Minimising stress is absolutely vital in a time like this for
mental health. Don't let this be something that stresses you. In these unprecedented times, all any of us can do is our best and please be reassured that you have our support and guidance when you need it.
Take care and stay safe,
Mrs Lawrence and the South Milford Team
South Milford Primary School
Mrs Lawrence
Email: admin@sm.starmat.uk
Website: http://www.southmilfordprimary.co.uk
Location: South Milford Community Primary School, Sand Lane, South Milford, Leeds, UK
Phone: 01977 682359
Twitter: @southmilfordcp