Gone but not quite forgotten
Dear all,
Last Sunday marked the fourth anniversary of the government’s announcement of Covid measures which preceded us going into lockdown on the 23rd of March 2020. It is hard to know what to think about this as we have moved on so much since then. We cannot (and should not) simply consign this period to history, as it was life changing for many, and we lived through a time that historians of the future will feast upon when they have full access to the official government files.
What have we learned since then? We know that children are resilient and that they are able to absorb more than we credit them for. However, there are still significant residual effects from that time and research is confirming what we already know in schools – that young children learn best face to face, and that their personal development is best served in the company of others. This all sounds familiar but the impact has not gone away and is unlikely to for some time. I am an optimist by nature but reflecting on that time does not bring back great memories.
There are, of course, some things that we now do much better than before Covid. The fast tracking of digital skills has given people flexibility that we could only have dreamt of not that long ago. The verb ‘to Zoom’ was unheard of, but is now very much part of what we do in and out of school. Other digital advances include the greater sharing of information and access to details and data at a far greater pace. Have we become more independent in the past four years? I am not so sure, and I can testify that young children seem to be struggling with many of the things that we used to take for granted.
As educators, we have to somehow draw a line under the past, and it is important that children see school for what it is. Namely, school should be a safe haven in which to learn, grow resilience, have fun with friends and gain a sense of perspective about their place in the wider world both near and far. I think that we have achieved much of this, and we continue to share the message that we should not take anything for granted – each day should be cherished.
This was particularly true when we celebrated World Book Day yesterday. The school was full of fun and laughter as pupils and staff really put in a great effort to dress up as fictional Heroes and Villains, and we also hosted a quite brilliant House Reading Competition which was greatly enjoyed by all.
Jason Whiskerd
