Charities unite to call for support for children returning to school after lockdown

Teachers fear for pupils’ mental health as they return to school next week

A survey carried out by the two largest children’s charities in Wales has revealed that 85% of school staff fear their pupils’ mental health has been affected by lockdown.

Fewer than one in five of them (18.5%) said they felt they had the skills necessary to support their pupils when they return to school, according to the survey of 200 staff by Barnardo’s Cymru and Action for Children Cymru.

More than 70% of those surveyed called for extra training for staff and the same proportion said they would need help with their own mental health and well-being. Some teachers said they had found supporting children at home on the phone each day emotionally draining and expected to return to school feeling exhausted.

Barnardo’s Cymru and Action for Children Cymru have welcomed the Welsh Government’s decision to invest in more school-based counselling to help pupils affected by lockdown. But they have called for an urgent increase in family support services, working in partnership with schools, to prevent long-term mental health problems among children and young people.

Sarah Crawley, Director of Barnardo’s Cymru, said: “The Covid-19 outbreak has exposed children and young people to an unprecedented level of trauma, loss and adversity.

“Schools will have a huge role to play in the rebuilding of communities as we exit lockdown. Investment in multi-agency working will be the key to success as schools will need support to cope with the increased demands on them.”

Brigitte Gater, national director for Action for Children Cymru, said:  ‘Our report’s findings reflect the experience of our frontline key workers during the coronavirus pandemic who report families, already under significant pressure, seeing wages dry up and battling to keep food on the table while trying to educate and motivate their children at home.

“The impact on families has been profound and now children face going back to school in a greatly changed environment.

‘It is vital that schools do not face the consequences of lockdown alone and have a comprehensive package of early intervention and support for children who have experienced challenging circumstances and in many cases, severe hardship.”

The charities have called for extra funding to set up family support hubs in partnership with schools in deprived areas where the effects of the pandemic have been felt the most. They would offer early intervention for families ranging from emotional wellbeing and resilience to practical household management and signposting to services that can help those struggling financially.

Evidence shows that if families don’t get early support their children can suffer long term mental health problems, as witnessed after Hurricane Katrina and the Christchurch earthquake.

The charities also want to see extra-curricular activities for pupils in deprived areas to help them catch up with their learning and development.

Barnardo’s Cymru and Action for Children Cymru have produced a report ‘Lessons from lockdown’ based on findings from their survey and interviews with frontline staff working in services supporting children, young people and families.

It warns that pupils affected by trauma could demonstrate a wide range of reactions, including behavioural changes, emotional distress, grief, attention difficulties, academic failure, nightmares and stress.

Sarah Crawley said: “We know that some children will have been exposed to poverty, domestic violence, parental conflict or child abuse for the first time. We also know that, without early intervention, this trauma and adversity can lead to long term mental health problems.”

Brigitte Gater said: “We want Welsh Government, local authorities and third sector providers to work together to mitigate the effects of a public health crisis that could taint the lives of our children for many years to come.’

Barnardo’s Cymru and Action for Children Cymru are calling for a stronger frontline response including:

• An improved frontline response to safeguarding and mental health issues with schools and family support services working closer together.
• Support with food poverty, managing household finances, digital exclusion and signposting for support with housing and welfare.
• Additional enrichment activities outside school hours, remotely or otherwise, to support children’s learning and broader family support including respite, emotional support and building resilience.
• Additional therapeutic support for families of younger children and, when feasible within health restrictions, making play therapy available to children where this isn’t currently available. Evidence suggests that younger pupils are at higher risk of experiencing longer term adverse impacts, particularly if their families have struggled during the pandemic.

Lessons from lockdown can be read in full here:

• English: barnardos.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/lessons-from-lockdown-supporting-vulnerable-children-young-people-returning-school-learning-english.pdf
• Welsh: barnardos.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/lessons-from-lockdown-supporting-vulnerable-children-young-people-returning-school-learning-welsh.pdf

Mae athrawon yn poeni am iechyd meddwl disgyblion wrth iddynt ddychwelyd i’r ysgol yr wythnos nesaf

Mae arolwg a gynhaliwyd gan y ddwy elusen blant fwyaf yng Nghymru wedi datgelu bod 85% o staff ysgolion yn poeni bod y cyfyngiadau symud wedi effeithio ar iechyd meddwl eu disgyblion.

Roedd llai nag un o bob pump ohonyn nhw (18.5%) yn teimlo bod ganddyn nhw’r sgiliau angenrheidiol i gefnogi eu disgyblion pan fyddant yn dychwelyd i’r ysgol, yn ôl yr arolwg o 200 o staff gan Barnardo’s Cymru a Gweithredu dros Blant Cymru.

Roedd mwy na 70% o’r rhai a holwyd wedi galw am hyfforddiant ychwanegol i staff a dywedodd yr un gyfran y byddai angen help arnynt â’u hiechyd meddwl a’u lles eu hunain. Dywedodd rhai athrawon eu bod wedi canfod bod cefnogi plant gartref ar y ffôn bob dydd yn eu draenio’n emosiynol ac roeddent yn poeni y byddant wedi ymlâdd ar ôl dychwelyd i’r ysgol.

Mae Barnardo’s Cymru a Gweithredu dros Blant Cymru wedi croesawu penderfyniad Llywodraeth Cymru i fuddsoddi mewn mwy o gwnsela yn yr ysgol i helpu disgyblion yr effeithir arnynt gan y cyfnod clo. Ond maen nhw wedi galw am gynnydd brys mewn gwasanaethau cymorth i deuluoedd, gan weithio mewn partneriaeth ag ysgolion, i atal problemau iechyd meddwl tymor hir ymysg plant a phobl ifanc.

Dywedodd Sarah Crawley, Cyfarwyddwr Barnardo’s Cymru: “Mae Covid-19 wedi gorfodi plant a phobl ifanc i wynebu lefel digynsail o drawma, colled ac adfyd.

“Bydd gan ysgolion ran enfawr i’w chwarae mewn ailadeiladu cymunedau wrth i’r cyfyngiadau symud gael eu llacio. Buddsoddi mewn gweithio amlasiantaethol fydd yr allwedd i lwyddiant, oherwydd bydd angen cefnogaeth ar ysgolion i ymdopi â’r galwadau cynyddol arnynt. ”

Dywedodd Brigitte Gater, cyfarwyddwr cenedlaethol Gweithredu dros Blant Cymru: ‘Mae canfyddiadau ein hadroddiad yn adlewyrchu profiad ein gweithwyr allweddol rheng flaen yn ystod y pandemig coronafirws. Rydym wedi clywed am deuluoedd, a oedd eisoes dan bwysau sylweddol, yn gweld eu hincwm yn prinhau ac yn brwydro i gadw dau ben llinyn ynghyd tra’n ceisio addysgu ac ysgogi eu plant gartref.

“Mae’r effaith ar deuluoedd wedi bod yn ddwys a nawr mae plant yn wynebu mynd yn ôl i’r ysgol mewn amgylchedd sydd yn wahanol iawn.

“Mae’n hanfodol nad yw ysgolion yn wynebu canlyniadau’r cyfnod cloi ar eu pen eu hunain a bod ganddynt becyn cynhwysfawr o ymyrraeth a chefnogaeth gynnar i blant sydd wedi profi amgylchiadau heriol ac mewn sawl achos, caledi difrifol.”

Mae’r elusennau wedi galw am arian ychwanegol i sefydlu hybiau cymorth i deuluoedd mewn partneriaeth ag ysgolion mewn ardaloedd difreintiedig lle mae effeithiau’r pandemig wedi’u teimlo fwyaf. Byddant yn cynnig ymyrraeth gynnar i deuluoedd, megis lles emosiynol a gwytnwch,  rheoli cartrefi yn ymarferol, a chyfeirio at wasanaethau a all helpu’r rhai sy’n wynebu caledi ariannol.

Mae tystiolaeth yn dangos, os na fydd teuluoedd yn cael cefnogaeth gynnar, gall eu plant ddioddef problemau iechyd meddwl tymor hir, fel y gwelwyd ar ôl Corwynt Katrina a daeargryn Christchurch.

Mae’r elusennau hefyd eisiau gweld gweithgareddau allgyrsiol i ddisgyblion mewn ardaloedd difreintiedig i’w helpu i ddal i fyny â’u dysgu a’u datblygiad.

Mae Barnardo’s Cymru a Gweithredu dros Blant Cymru wedi llunio adroddiad ‘Lessons from lockdown’ yn seiliedig ar ganfyddiadau eu harolwg a chyfweliadau â staff rheng flaen sy’n gweithio mewn gwasanaethau sy’n cefnogi plant, pobl ifanc a theuluoedd.

Mae’n rhybuddio y gallai disgyblion yr effeithir arnynt gan drawma ddangos ystod eang o ymatebion, gan gynnwys newidiadau ymddygiad, trallod emosiynol, galar, anawsterau i ddal sylw, methiant academaidd, hunllefau a straen.

Dywedodd Sarah Crawley: “Rydyn ni’n gwybod y bydd rhai plant wedi wynebu tlodi, trais domestig, gwrthdaro rhwng rhieni neu gam-drin plant am y tro cyntaf. Rydym hefyd yn gwybod, heb ymyrraeth gynnar, y gall y trawma a’r adfyd hwn arwain at broblemau iechyd meddwl tymor hir. ”
Dywedodd Brigitte Gater: “Rydyn ni eisiau i Lywodraeth Cymru, awdurdodau lleol a darparwyr trydydd sector weithio gyda’i gilydd i liniaru effeithiau’r argyfwng iechyd cyhoeddus a allai roi staen ar fywydau ein plant am flynyddoedd lawer i ddod.”

Mae Barnardo’s Cymru a Gweithredu dros Blant Cymru yn galw am ymateb rheng flaen cryfach gan gynnwys:

• Ymateb rheng flaen gwell i faterion diogelu ac iechyd meddwl gydag ysgolion a gwasanaethau cymorth i deuluoedd yn gweithio’n agosach at ei gilydd.
• Cefnogaeth gyda thlodi bwyd, rheoli cyllid cartrefi, gwahardd digidol ac atgyfeirio i gymorth gyda thai a lles.
• Gweithgareddau cyfoethogi ychwanegol y tu allan i oriau ysgol, o bell neu fel arall, i gefnogi dysgu plant a chymorth ehangach i deuluoedd gan gynnwys gofal seibiant, cefnogaeth emosiynol a meithrin gwytnwch.
• Cefnogaeth therapiwtig ychwanegol i deuluoedd plant iau a, phan fo hynny’n ymarferol o fewn cyfyngiadau iechyd, sicrhau bod therapi chwarae ar gael i blant lle nad yw ar gael ar hyn o bryd. Mae tystiolaeth yn awgrymu bod disgyblion iau mewn mwy o berygl o gael effeithiau andwyol tymor hwy, yn enwedig os yw eu teuluoedd wedi profi trafferthion yn ystod y pandemig.