EDUCATION EDITION
All Smiles POST-PANDEMIC, YOUNG PEOPLE’S MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING IS FAST BECOMING AN URGENT PRIORITY. WE FIND OUT HOW LOCAL SCHOOLS ARE KEEPING THE KIDS HAPPY HELPING HAND
WORDS BY MIRIAM BALANESCU
For families acclimatised to home- schooling, but returning children to the rhythm of the classroom, finding the right school is essential – and it’s important to be led not just by academic plaudits, but support programmes. “Children cannot learn unless they feel well and happy,” states Amanda Gibbard, headteacher at Cambridge International School, whose next open morning is on October 7.
he pandemic was a tough time for most, but for the youngest among us, the reverberations run miles deep – meaning those heading
communication to problem-solving – something which children who lived their early years through lockdowns, unable to interact with children outside the home, missed. Meanwhile, the repercussions of ‘touch starvation’ for those of all ages are beginning to be unearthed, including lower immunity and higher anxiety. Adrift without routine, tensions could run high, worsening the ramifications of isolation.
back to school are likely to feel shaky on their feet. As our grasp of mental health issues strengthens, for many parents, their children’s happiness is among their most pressing concerns. During the lockdown of March 2020, symptoms of depression and PTSD saw a worrying spike in children aged between 7.5 and 12 years. According to a government report, rates of probable mental disorders between 2017 and 2021 in six to 16-year- olds climbed from 11.6% to 17.4%. Play-based learning is crucial for development, from empathy and
Play-based learning is crucial, from empathy to problem-solving
TAKE TIME Nothing can replace the face-to-face interaction of a peer group, but it can be important to ease the transition into classroom learning
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK SEPTEMBER 2022 69
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