If you're a teacher, how do the kids seem at the moment?

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

In light of all the reports of children's mental health and development suffering during lockdown, I've been wondering about this a lot. Have you noticed a big change in the kids you teach? Was it as bad as you feared?

My DS9 seems to have come through it all more or less OK, though according to him he's currently getting told off a lot 'for no reason' so reading between the lines, he's being a bit of a PITA. Hopefully it'll settle down.

I know this sounds like a very 'journalist' post... all I can say is I promise I'm not! Been around for years and would make a crap journalist.

I'm not a teacher but from chatting to my daughter's senco the kids who have struggled most (on a general level) have been those who were in throughout lockdown, they have struggled with the others returning and a return to normal school.

I'm curious too! My 6 year old has been struggling being back at school. Says it's really really REALLY boring as he's just learning the same stuff. He's living for Easter break.

I highly agree with PITA!!
I am finding my class really chatty and they have forgotten about raising hands and trying not to speak over each other. They are still lovely, but have forgotten how to be in school with a big group of other children.

Mine's not happy with suddenly having to do some work His class has been going for a daily walk as well though, which is a brilliant idea.

Tired, a bit fractious. Their handwriting has generally deteriorated but we're working on it. My own 14 year old is grumpy as Hades but I think it's (mainly) hormones...

My year seven child tried to kill themselves a few weeks back. He is not ok. Nothing like this in the past and all down to COVID.

Im not a teacher but a work in a school and have chatted to the teachers (and can see the children) They, on average, seeem happy to be back but have far less stamina.

@SnargaluffPod that's awful. I'm so sorry.

@SnargaluffPod I'm so sorry. I hope he starts to feel better soon.

@SnargaluffPod I'm so sorry that's absolutely awful. I hope things start looking up for him soon.

Definitely agree they seem to have forgotten how to be in the classroom; my Y2s have taken to just getting up and wandering around willy nilly!

I've noticed that there are a lot more children getting upset at drop off - there's usually only one or two by this age, but there are at least five just in my class at the moment. They're all fine once they're in, it's just that separation moment, like you often see in reception children going to school for the first time.

Our primary school has been fantastic. No learning at all until Easter. It’s all about mental health, worries, friendships, PE, forest school and getting back to the basics. The recovery curriculum is based on what the children need to thrive, not on the education they have missed.

Of course they are still learning, they just don’t know it!

Mental health wise we've had a few who miss their mums and dads and are finding it hard to come into school - this is all year groups in our school. Some Y6 are teary.

Behaviour wise - they're struggling socially with not being able to take turns, compromise and resolve problems independently as they haven't had to so lots of silly falling out and squabbles.

They're struggling with stamina for things like writing and reading and generally following instructions seems to be a challenge at the moment.

Oh I didn’t answer the question. Older children are quieter, less friendly with each other and quite ‘stroppy teen’ - we think an awful lot of them have spent a great deal of time on TikTok etc. Younger children are quite feral (!) and seem to need a lot more reassurance - always checking where their adult are.

Some school refusers, but not as many as we expected.

KS2 Teacher. Glad to be in but very chatty and noticeably more ‘back chat’ from a lot of them. We’ve also noticed a lack of stamina both in academic lessons but particularly in PE. We’ll get there but in a lot of ways, it’s similar to how they were at the start of the year in September.

Behaviour wise - they're struggling socially with not being able to take turns, compromise and resolve problems independently as they haven't had to so lots of silly falling out and squabbles.

This is interesting, I've definitely noticed that with DS. A lot of his interactions with friends has been via Minecraft, so minor squabbles often seem to spiral out of control very quickly. Similar to on here, I suppose.

@exLtEveDallas that's brilliant, I wish that could be the approach nationwide.

@SnargaluffPod
So sorry your son and family going through this. Have you/ son had any help??

Feral and lazy. The nice, well-behaved, hardworking ones are as lovely as ever, but many have done little or no work during lockdown and feel unmotivated to change their habits. None of them seem particularly damaged by their experience (although I admit that it’s very early days to assess.) in fact, I would go so far as to say that many of them don’t seem to have obeyed lockdown at all.

Secondary teacher here. My classes are a lot more passive and seem less engaged. They used to willingly participate in class discussion and volunteer answers. They are much more reluctant now and I think it's because they are used to being more passive on a Google meet or wearing a mask is prohibitive and they feel self conscious.

My year 2 who has always loved school and never had any issues either academically or socially is struggling. We’re working with the teacher to help her. She says she just feels worried all the time and says she doesn’t want to get used to being at school because they’ll probably close again. Her teacher says the class have generally been more prone to tears and fractious.

I'm a school based therapist. I've noticed my vulnerable kids who were school based have found lockdown brilliant, because they got more individual attention at school. They re a bit put off that the rest of the kids are back!

The kids who were at home are a little more fragile. Some safeguarding issues coming out from while they were at home, some a bit anxious about leaving the bubble of "safety" from covid. Over all though the schools seem very upbeat and generally the kids seem thrilled to be back at school!

SEN teacher (SEMH) currently shielding but from what I've heard from colleagues the children are really struggling - lots of violence against staff and eachother and finding it really hard to get back into routines. Feel like SEN children have been forgotten in all of this and the government have been worse than useless with support!

I work in FE, and the young people I see round college are thrilled to be back. The ones I work with 1-1 are really struggling and don't want to come back because they're scared of catching things or taking germs home to kill their granny, or scared of being around loads of people again suddenly.

PRU - we've been open throughout but hard to get the kids in when other schools are shut. The ones who came in are OK. The ones who didn't are really struggling with structure and routine. Plus we have had a number of new referrals during lockdown. And the year 11s are in bits about grading arrangements, as frankly am I.

@JesusInTheCabbageVan*@Jumpers268@shouldistop @GirlInterruptedAgain*

Thank you for best wishes, we are on the waiting list for low risk intervention. It will be about seven weeks until we get to the top of the waiting list. My younger child is accessing help through school. My eldest seems a little better since he went back to school but he’s very up and down. No help available for me or us as a family. But I’m hanging on in there.