To feel I can’t cope

[NeonQT]

I know it’s so early on but OMG I don’t know how to do this long term. My 9 year old has a ehcp for challenging behaviour amongst other problems. My little girls are also SEN although not ehcp, they’re 5&6. They all need help at the same time and can’t do their work independently. Theyll interrupt and shout out etc and we’re just not getting any basic tasks like writing and numbers done. It’s so hard when I’ve also got a baby, 8m, and they’re all shouting ‘I need help’.

Has anyone got any ideas of maybe a staggered timetable or things more fun that sitting writing?

to be quite honest I would focus on keeping them happy at the moment rather then stressing yourself and them out with education, get them doing art, counting tins in the cupboards counting their toys, watching things online that have an educational slant

Agree with issey. I would forget about school work and let them play for a few weeks.
You have got your hands full Op, don’t stress yourself fgs.

Take it away from them, please, please please don't make your life any harder than it is

Sorry think I just needed a rant after seeing so many ‘Braggy’ posts on Facebook of perfect timetables and masses of worksheets.
My kids have gross and fine motor skill problems so think I’ll work I’m catching, throwing, cutlery etc in a fun way. Reading, drawing, painting. Think I’m just getting wound up

Drop the work now
List what makes all of them happy
Try if you at all can to get a Venn diagram where all their likes can overlap
Make sure they are getting regular small snacks
Make sure they are drinking water
And if they end up with 8 hours of telly in totality a day so be it.
NO HOME SCHOOLING unless they are specifically asking.
Have you a partner who lives with you?

Yep. completely agree with others. Keeping yourself sane is number one priority - anything else is a bonus.

Love the idea of a Venn diagram, would never have thought of that. Yes my partner lives with us although he’s still working

Drop the work as others have said. You don't need the grief, just keep everyone happy as much as possible. Let them watch their favourite programmes or films. Do some easy activities. I used to get mine to do things like walk with a balloon between your knees to end of the lounge and back, count how many baby steps it takes to walk to the end of the room, how many giant steps, how many bunny hops etc... kept them busy and sort of justifiable as numbers/maths.
Indoor picnic, lunch on a blanket on floor so all the crap can be gathered up and crumbs shaken outside.
be kind to yourself, make it easy on yourself, stay sane.

This is the time to stay off Facebook

Ignore fb and instagram

Don't try to teach all dc all at once: if you do want to keep up with school lessons or learning as much as possible then stagger it so one child is working whilst the others are chilling and swap every half hour or so

Remember that not all learning has to be desk based and written. There is a lot to be said for learning through play, even when your children are KS 2.

Teachers are setting work because that's what they've been told to do. They're really not expecting all of it to be done and certainly not to the same standards as they'd see in school

Try your best and don't turn it into a battle

Remember that the most important thing at the moment is yours and your children's mental and physical well-being

Paint with water outside and make big circles going clockwise and anticlockwise.

Small toys such as Lego and toy cars are good for exercising the hands and fingers, as is playdough.

If you don't normally paint at home then don't start now when you're all together under already incredibly stressful circumstances because it's just going to go wrong!

Don't you think by not doing the work set will end up the kids being held back a year?
My kids are in primary and our headteacher has said the work is mandatory

Don't you think by not doing the work set will end up the kids being held back a year?

No.

In Scotland the authorities are taking quite a fatalistic approach which is promoting homeschooling but in reality accepting that our children’s education has been “frozen in time”.

In short, when normality does resume the governing bodies must come up with an action plan as to how to proceed taking into account this pause.

Do you have a sewing machine and scrap fabric? Making little beanbags is good fun, easy to do - lots of drawing squares, cutting out, maybe even a go on the machine (my 9 year old does this with me behind him holding the fabric with him)?

And then afterwards, lots of fun to be had playing games with the bags themselves e.g. setting out targets / challenges in the back garden for thrown bags?