Support for parents with educational ideas to inspire

Parents across Sussex became teachers overnight once again when all schools shut their doors to the majority of pupils on Tuesday (January 5). Many are juggling their careers with childcare while working from home and everyone is taking time to adjust to the difficult way of life for the second time in less than a year. When Boris Johnson announced the first school closures back in March 2020, local mums and dads came together via social media to support one another share laughs and offer tips, ideas and advice. During the first lockdown Sussex mum-of-two Frankie Penfold set up Parents Rock during Isolation on Facebook and it gained 12,000 followers in around a week. Frankie wanted the group to have a really positive vibe in anxious times and it went down well with parents. When the announcement was made on January 4, 2021 for the second school closure amid the third national lockdown, Frankie posted to the group calling for businesses to offer their services once again. On Facebook, she told the group’s many Sussex followers: “It needs to focus around children and then potentially something to help us parents stay focused and happy also.” The BBC is screening programmes to help families in what it has described as its biggest ever educational offering. Programmes for primary school children are being screened for three hours from 9am every week day on CBBC and programmes for secondary aged children are being screened at the same time on BBC2 for at least two hours. Ben Evans, head teacher at Windlesham House in West Sussex, has reassured parents feeling the pressure and told them it is not necessary to replicate the classroom. He said: “My advice to parents is to stick to a regular time for breakfast each morning, together as a family if you can. “Encourage your child to get dressed just as they would if they were going to school, it helps to create the right mindset to start the day. All children will adapt to remote learning in different ways, but what last year has taught us is that our children our extremely resilient and will rise to the challenge, given the right support and encouragement.” He said short bursts of 40 to 50 minutes of learning interspersed with fresh air and exercise are important. Children will be out of school until after February half term when the situation will be reviewed by the Government. We would love to hear your home schooling tips and see your photos. Email copydesk.sussex@ jpimedia.co.uk.