Adoption worker’s back to school story

Rachel Cook has always wanted to write a children’s story.

But she has never been able to find the time to sit down and do it.

And then the coronavirus pandemic happened – which gave her some free time and also the inspiration too.

Rachel, who works for Carmarthenshire County Council as an adoption support worker, used her time during lockdown to write and illustrate Sammy Sloth Goes Back to School.

The story will hopefully help children who are feeling anxious about going back to school after being home for so long.

Rachel, aged 36, who has always worked with vulnerable children and children with additional learning needs, said:

“I have always enjoyed being creative and have dreamed of writing short children’s stories and illustrating them for a long time.

“I never imagined that the first story I would write would be about a pandemic, but in times of so much change and uncertainty I found myself thinking of the many children I’ve supported over the years through transitions and how challenging this would be for so many.

“Children often find change particularly challenging, and with the changes approaching us as we begin to return to school, with it may come a mix of emotions and feelings. Stories are a natural way for children to learn about their feelings, to help them learn that their experiences of feeling worried or nervous about returning to school are faced by many.

“This story focuses on the familiar, particularly around relationships, as sometimes feelings of anxiety come from the unknown, and while we may not know everything about what school will look like in the coming months, by thinking of some of the things that will be staying the same, we can help our children feel more secure.”

The council’s translation team has translated the story into Welsh, and the council has arranged to print copies to put into the county’s primary schools.

Executive Board Member for Education and Children’s Services Cllr Glynog Davies said: “This is a wonderful story which I am sure will help a lot of children feeling uncertain about returning to school.

“I would like to both congratulate and thank Rachel; I am delighted that the book will be going into our primary schools for pupils to enjoy.”

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