School support for COVID-19

South Lanarkshire schools have been offered support to cope with classroom conflict.

Scottish Mediation has written to the local education authority amid concerns about strains on school relationships amid COVID-19.

Increased support is being offered to schools in the region to help staff and pupils cope with the emotional stresses from children returning to classes amid Covid-19 and any conflicts it causes.

Scottish Mediation, the professional body for mediators in

Scotland, has written to South Lanarkshire Council offering its support following the implementation of a service launched nationally – which was supported by the Scottish Government’s Wellbeing fund.

Scottish Mediation is now keen to ensure that schools are aware of the new service after hearing anecdotal evidence from parents and education professionals nationally about concerns surrounding the potential for conflict as families and children try to settle back into a routine - and reform relationships - after five months away from the school environment.

Graham Boyack, Director of Scottish Mediation, said: “We are hearing genuine concerns for some children about how they are coping emotionally with the return to school and what the impact of the events of the last few months have had on their mental health and wellbeing.

“That’s why we’re offering our mediation service and highlighting our training options to primary and secondary schools to help.”