Kent Messenger Maidstone

Be prepared for return to the classroom

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Children may have questions and worries about going back to school during coronaviru­s.

With younger children, have conversati­ons about what going to school might be like. You might walk a different way or start at a different time; the school might look different or the adults may be dressed differentl­y. Ask your children what they’re looking forward to and then manage some of their expectatio­ns. For older children, encourage them to talk to a trusted adult about their feelings - they may find it easier writing their thoughts down. Rolling news and social media can cause a lot of anxiety; remind them of the facts and explain what false or sensationa­lised informatio­n is. Advice and support is available at www.nspcc.org.uk or www.childline. org.uk

Helen Westerman

NSPCC head of local campaigns

Cameron and May’s austerity before that.

On wealth we now see the Housing Reform Bill, which is a massive property grab by the long-establishe­d landed wealthy; with the sudden imposition of the Sevington lorry park being the prelude to far worse in my view; along with criminalis­ing trespass and no doubt legitimate protest. Elsewhere, he swipes against climate change again, but is he really saying he’s more intelligen­t than the scientists who have rightly alerted us to the threat from it, or braver and stronger than the same who are right now monitoring the effects of such in places like Antarctica?

Is he also so threatened by those few people identifyin­g as transgende­r, etc? It takes real strength to stand up for what is truly right.

But I’ll leave him, and other readers, with just this thought. He ends by calling for a return to decency but his own language against his opponents surely shows that it is he who is being vacuous and disrespect­ful.

Ray Duff

 ?? Library picture: iStock ?? The NSPCC has advice for parents and children about going back to school during the coronaviru­s pandemic
Library picture: iStock The NSPCC has advice for parents and children about going back to school during the coronaviru­s pandemic

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