9th April 2020
Parents’ organisation Connect is having an ongoing conversation with parent and carers to find out how families are coping with the current situation through a survey.
The results to date are showing high levels of anxiety, stress and confusion about the impacts of the coronavirus COVID-19 on daily family life and specifically about what home learning means and involves. You can read the interim findings from the survey, which is still running, and hear directly from parents here. The survey is available here.
Executive Director of Connect Eileen Prior said:
'We recognise that everyone is doing their best at a difficult time but we are asking schools and local authorities to pause, gather feedback from parents, children and young people, and consider what and how they are communicating with families.'
'The widespread use in social media and the media generally of phrases such as ‘home-schooling’, ‘home educating’ and ‘teaching at home’ put huge pressure on parents and families; most parents are not teachers and should not be expected to be delivering school learning at home as stand-ins for teachers and schools. We urge everyone to think about what ‘learning at home’ really means. Most parents are doing the best they can to keep children and young people happy, healthy and active: all of this involves ‘learning at home’.'
'Communication from school should not be about teaching but learning, recognising all the fantastic things families may already be doing – playing games together, reading, cooking, talking, listening, learning from one another, taking exercise. Some families need extra practical support to help them manage. For the schools who are not already doing so, please reach out to parents to ask how they are doing and how you can support them, rather than focusing on school work.'
Leading parental engagement academic and author Dr Janet Goodall confirmed this and has a strong message for schools:
'This is entirely right! Parental engagement in learning – which we have known for years is a vital part of educational achievement – is not now and never has been about parents delivering school based content. Now – as always – it’s about parents *supporting* learning.I would ask school staff to think carefully about what children and young people really need to learn; these are not normal times; children’ will not ‘fall behind others’ because everyone is in the same situation! Concentrate on what’s really important; the rest can be made up later and everyone will be doing the same thing.'
'Start from an asset based approach, as above – what are parents already doing? What can they do? Importantly, how can you help parents reassure their children? Keep in contact with families but try to avoid putting pressure on them. And don’t put too much pressure on yourself, or colleagues! The most important thing is first to stay safe, and to stay healthy.'