Buckingham's MP joins calls for masks in classrooms to be dropped
Greg Smith wants the rules around face coverings in the classroom looked at again
Buckingham's MP is joining calls for the decision on masks being worn in classrooms to be dropped after Easter.
It comes as students get ready to go back to school from Monday (8 March).
Current guidance from the Department for Education for secondary school students states "face coverings should be worn in classrooms and during activities unless social distancing can be maintained".
But Greg Smith, MP for Buckingham, is one of a number of MPs calling for the measure to be dropped after Easter.
He said that he wants the rules around face coverings in the classroom looked at again:
"Given that all of our children's education has been so badly disrupted over the last year, I want to make sure that there are no barriers to those pupils being able to get back on with their learning, to get back on with being children.
"I fear that actually face coverings in the classroom would be such a barrier and we need to ensure they don't need to wear them."
The Government has confirmed this is a "temporary measure", which will be reviewed at Easter.
They also add it is "guidance, not mandatory activity, and any legal exemptions that apply to the wearing of face coverings in shops and on public transport also apply to this advice".
The Department for Education's guidance on face coverings at school can be read in full here.
Don't leave it until the last minute
Use the last week of home-schooling to prepare your children for their return to school. According to our expert Nicola, getting the kids gradually back into a routine of early nights and early mornings will help to ease pressure during the first week back, as could minimising screen time. Having an open conversation with your child about these changes to routine can help them to understand that you are doing it to help them.
Packing PE kits and lunches beforehand will also help to alleviate stress for both you and your child, and checking that uniforms still fit will help to ensure your child is as comfortable as possible come Monday.
Talk them through what school might look like
Talking your child through what school will look like can help prepare them for the new environment. This could be presented to them as a story, explaining that they will enter the classroom and wash their hands, and that their teacher will be wearing a mask.
Keep school discussions positive
It is important to keep conversations about school positive and reassuring. Remind your children that they will get to see their friends and have fun! Try to avoid conversations about working hard or catching up on work. After months of being told that staying away from school will help keep people safe, it may also help to emphasise that school is a safe environment to ease anxiety about returning.
Talk to the school
It is important to inform the school of problems that may be going on at home to ensure they can deal with different issues sensitively. Nicola suggests contacting the school before Monday to update staff on any issues that have may have impacted your child's mental health, such as bereavement, serious illness or separation.
Make a worry box
Using creativity can be a great way to help a child express their concerns about returning to school. Nicola suggests making a worry box for primary aged kids to help them talk through and alleviate their anxieties. Similarly, a worry monster toy could be used as a prop to encourage children to open up about their feelings on returning to school.
Watch a film on Sunday
Nicola suggests watching a film as a family the day before school's return to promote a sense of togetherness which might help to reduce children's anxiety and lead to a better night's sleep.
Trust your child's resilience!
Kids are very resilient, so any worries they might have probably won't impact them as negatively as you expect. Nicola highlights that it is important that parents don't project their own worries onto their children. She says: "Remember they have been used to this new way of schooling for nearly a year. Children are far more resilient than we give them credit for!"
Leave time for you
It's not just the kids who are anxious about the return to school; the months of home schooling has taken a toll on parents and carers too. Nicola compares preparing your kids for school with an emergency on a plane: "when we go on an aeroplane, the parent is asked to put their oxygen mask on first! It is not selfish to put your needs first." Looking after your own mental health can actually improve your parenting, with Nicola adding: "When you're in a better place mentally, you are naturally a better parent."