‘An opportunity for change’ – life during the lockdown
THE impact of Covid and life in lockdown led to a change in how we operated – none more so than in our children’s schools.
With children unable to attend lessons, schools had to take lessons to the pupils.
While for many schools this involved providing online resources, it also led to parents – many of whom were also now working from home – having to juggle employment responsibilities with having to delve into the memory banks of their own education when supporting lessons on plate tectonics and algebra.
Recognising the struggle of many parents, teachers started to record video lessons on subjects ranging from maths to PE.
Gosport teacher Danny Bohannan said: ‘It’s just nice to be able to do something and interact with the children and know they’re making progress.’
Richard Bloxsom set up online cookery lessons, including the baking of NHS tribute cakes, while St Edmund’s Catholic School became the city’s first to stream a timetable of live lessons into families’ homes.
Restrictions on public transport led to more people walking and cycling, with city councillor Lynne Stagg describing the upsurge as ‘an opportunity to change how we travel for good’.
‘Lessons are the same time each day, so the kids have their little bit of structure.’ Danny Bohannan
‘The lessons set online are a massive help – we would be lost without them.’
Josey Cooper
‘I was nervous before my first online lesson but I feel like a real teacher again.’
Louise Hooker