(BPS news)

Returning to school after lockdown

28 August 2020

With many children returning to school over the next week, we've created a package of expert psychological advice and resources to help support children and young people as they go back into the classroom. 

For some children and young people, heading back to school is an exciting and positive step back to normality after lockdown, but for others it will mean returning to an environment that they find stressful and in some cases, distressing. 

Created by educational psychologists from the BPS’ division of child and educational psychology, the resources are packed with practical advice and tips to help children adjust to being at school during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Find here available resources 

The Relaunch Back to School After COVID-19 Restrictions

Guidance from the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) 

This Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) guidance document has been prepared by the PSI Division of Educational Psychology in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The document is aimed at schools (primary & post-primary) that are preparing to welcome children back to school post-restrictions. It provides advice to school staff around supporting students in the transition back to school. 

Here for outline  and here for pdf 

Global Psychology Leadership Team's conversation on mental health and well-being as it relates to schools during the COVID-19 crisis

July 6, 2020

Summary  

Approximately 30 presidents, chief executive officers and high-level representatives of national, regional and international psychology associations across the world met on Monday, July 6th, 2020 to discuss mental health and well-being as it relates to schools and education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the global psychology leadership team discussed the importance of a public health approach to addressing the significant inequities in accessing quality education as well as the social, emotional, teaching and learning needs of world's children, adolescents, parents, caregivers and school employees, such as teachers, support staff and principals. The World Bank reports that at least 1.5 billion children and youth in more than 160 countries worldwide have been impacted by mandated school closures (2020). Guidelines from UNICEF, the World Bank, the World Food Program and UNHCR warn that this disruption threatens loss of learning, health, safety and well-being of children, and urge governments to safeguard every child’s right to education as they make assessments about reopening schools during the pandemic (UNICEF, 2020).

The school is a home for students, teachers, support staff and families, and the welfare of each individual member of the school community is critically important for collective well-being.

In response, psychologists all over the world have gathered to provide support and to reassure teachers that they are not alone in their efforts to address these significant and novel challenges to meeting the needs of their students.  

This team of global leaders in psychology have shared their association’s resources for school communities during this time of transition and uncertainty. Additionally, a taskforce of specialists within this group is developing recommendations designed to address pandemic-related concerns for school communities to be disseminated globally.  

Association Resources for Schools and Families:  

• American Psychological Association: 
  https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/parenting-caregiving  
• Australian Psychological Society:  https://www.psychology.org.au/getmedia/6a3f524c-02c1-4e29-ac16-32a92a204599/20APS-CCN-IS-Transitioning-to-school-P1.pdf  
• British Psychological society: 
   https://www.bps.org.uk/sites/www.bps.org.uk/files/Policy/Policy%20-%20Files/Coronavirus%20and%20UK%20schools%20closures%20-%20support%20and%20advice.pdf  
• Colombian College of Psychologists: https://www.colpsic.org.co/aym_image/files/GUIA%20PARA%20PEDIATRAS%20DOC.pdf  
• Portuguese Psychologists Association: https://www.ordemdospsicologos.pt/ficheiros/documentos/intervencao_precoce_infancia_fase_desconfinamento.pdf  

" Hello, I am Corona"

Written by : Lies Scaut, psychotherapist and grief expert for De Weg Wijzer - Expertise Center for Trauma and Grief Therapy (Be)

Illustrated brochure to explain basic facts about the coronavirus/COVID-19, to teach the basic rules of protection, and to provide support in coping with the situation.

Brochure can be downloaded here on several languages (including Arabish,  Danish, Dari, Italian, Swedish, sign language, and other...) on the De Weg Wijzer website  

Also find here translations in national languages by  EFPA Member Associations:

• Luxembourgish - SLP.Lu 
  
• Greek (PDF) - SEPS 
  

'Talking to children about coronavirus’

UK/BPS and Child Mind Institute Inc.

BPS Talking to children about COVID-19   

Recommendations in relation to children
By the Department of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic - Psychology Section

How to talk about the coronavirus with children? What to do at home with children? What helps? 

Download here as PDF 

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie DGPs - Videoclip : How to explain Corona to children from 6 to 12 years old 

Video in German available here on Youtube 

Recommendations for children 

EMDR Europe

In “emergency” situations, when a serious critical event affects us, there is a highly emotional impact on the individual and the community. Victims of a traumatic event experience a disruption in their mental and emotional balance; they are on a constant alert that compromises the feeling of safety. Children and adults are well equipped to face difficult situations as long as they are appropriately supported.

Read EMDR Europe recommandations here 

'Recommendations for organizing distance education in schools'

Russian Psychological Society (RPS)

Read article as PDF:

 In English 

 In Russian 

10 Strategies to keep students motivated and engaged during current distance learning

Russian Psychological Society

Read article as PDF:

 in English 

 in Russian 