Home schooling during lockdown

With schools closed across the country in the latest lockdown, many parents are now balancing home schooling with work and other responsibilities. Many parents are faced with the challenge of ensuring their children stay on top of their studies, whilst also keeping them fit and healthy during this lockdown.

To provide help and support for parents, we have put together a list of helpful tips and links to resources for you. This is a difficult time for everyone and it’s important we look after one another while we’re all at home and battling to get through this pandemic together.

Lockdown home learning online and on TV

Home learning online

Your child’s school or nursery will be able to signpost you to the best online resources for your child’s level. There are some great educational resources and lessons for all ages on BBC Bitesize, including videos, quizzes and practice activities to help you with home learning.

Your child’s school or nursery will be able to help you understand what devices and software are needed for your child’s remote learning classes. This may include setting up Microsoft Teams or Zoom so that your child can attend virtual classes.

If you need to brush up on your own IT skills so that you can help your children to use online learning, we can arrange for parents to receive up to 6 hours of free individual support with an experienced tutor.  The sessions are safe and contact-free by phone and video.

If you would like information on the training available, please email inclusion@placesforpeople.co.uk

Please contact your child’s school or nursery if you don’t have access to a device for remote home learning, as they may be able to help you. If after contacting the school or nursery, you are still struggling to access a device for your child, please email inclusion@placesforpeople.co.uk and we’ll try our best to help you.

Home learning on TV

If you don’t have access to the internet for your child’s online learning, you’ll now be able to view primary and secondary school educational programmes on your TV.

• CBBC will be broadcasting three hours of primary school programmes every weekday, with BBC Bitesize Daily, and other popular programmes with an educational twist, such as Our School, Celebrity Supply Teacher, Horrible Histories.
• For secondary school pupils, BBC Two will be broadcasting programmes that support the curriculum for two hours every weekday. This will include BBC science, history and factual programmes.

For more information on the TV broadcasting schedules (including the Scottish schedule) and BBC Bitesize online, please click here.

Home schooling tips

While staying at home, many parents may be worried about their child’s development and the effect of missing school or nursery. Here are some useful links to find advice and tips:

• GOV.UK – Advice on helping children continue their education during coronavirus.
• Action for Children – Useful tips to help parents with home schooling.
• BBC – The five best tips to home schooling from BBC Woman’s Hour.

Eating well during lockdown

Eating well and staying active is important for our physical and mental wellbeing. As your child’s daily routine has changed, it’s important they eat a healthy, balanced diet which is filled with all the essential nutrients and energy they’ll need to get them through the day. Here are some useful links to help your child stay nutritionally well.

• NHS Change4Life – Helping you prepare healthier lunchbox your child will love.
• GOV.UK – Advice and support on free school meals.
• End Child Food Poverty - No child in the UK should be going to bed hungry.

Supporting your child’s mental health

Whilst children may enjoy spending more time at home in lockdown, for many the change in routine can have a very negative impact on their mental health. As a parent, it’s important we look after our children's physical health, but mental health is just as important. Here are some useful links that provide help and support for your child’s mental health.

• YoungMinds - Tips, advice and where to get support for your child's mental health.
• GOV.UK - Advice for parents on looking after the mental health and wellbeing of children.

If you want more information on organisations who specialise in providing mental health support, please click here.