Author: heather

Generation 2 Generation (G2G) aims to ensure that we learn the lessons of the Holocaust: the need for tolerance, empathy and understanding of all groups in society; the fact that prejudice and discrimination can motivate genocide.

G2G provides speakers who retell their parents and grandparents’ stories and experiences before and during the Holocaust. Our speakers are able to present to a variety of age groups, online or face-to-face, integrating first-hand video and audio testimony, photos and other artefacts to engage the students.

In the past 18 months our speakers have delivered more than 50 presentations to approximately 3600 audience members in schools, civic and religious institutions. Feedback from both students and teachers has been very positive.

“A superb presentation, pitched at exactly the right level for our students, combining the history with its impact on people.”  (History Teacher, Epsom)

 

“Thank you. It was really moving and a very clear explanation. Although it is almost impossible to imagine what it was like living as a Jew in the 1930s and 1940s, I now feel like I understand what they might have felt. It was extremely interesting and moving. Thank you for sharing your story.” (Year 9 student)

For more information please visit: www.generation2generation.org.uk

Lea Valley Primary School is working in partnership with Children’s Social Care to pilot the Mind of my Own app, a tool to encourage children to log their feelings and views, giving teachers the opportunity to tailor classes and the curriculum to their needs.

The lockdown has proved challenging for many children and the pilot aims to understand how the school and partners can protect and invest in their mental health and wellbeing.

Children are not isolated from the wider impact of COVID-19. Children benefit from being able to say how they feel and talking to people about their problems. This builds self-awareness, helps them recognise their emotions and increases their emotional vocabulary.

The app allows children to log on via an iPad and document their feelings and views and share them with a trusted professional like a teacher.

The app was initially created for children in care to express their day’s activities and feelings safely and discreetly, so that their care workers could respond in a timely manner.

The findings from the pilot so far indicate that the initiative is having a positive impact by giving another avenue to access vulnerable children, so that schools are able to intervene at an early stage.

The app also enables pupils to celebrate things that are positive in their lives at home and at school. This can also be shared with the class. In addition, teachers can pick up on children’s aspirations for hobbies and sports they may like to try out. This can further help the school explore community resources for the child to explore and broaden their horizons into.

One huge win is that children are understanding that ‘it’s ok not to be ok’. Talking about these feelings helps them to access their emotions and find ways to deal with daily challenges.

Case Study A

A pupil had made a statement about being afraid of where she lived. The class teacher made some time to explore this with the pupil and was able to find out where this fear had stemmed from. It turned out that the pupil’s house had been robbed a few months ago and the fear had stemmed from this.

The school was able to take action by enabling the pupil to receive some counselling from their school counsellor. The sessions were also made available to the parents.

Case Study B

One teacher noticed that there were many statements which highlighted friendship issues. She then decided to plan a half term unit in the PSHRE session on friendships. This strategy will help deal with this issue becoming a class focus which can interfere with learning.

Please contact Anneke Phillips if your school is interested in using this app: anneke.phillip@haringey.gov.uk

Mind Of My Own | Making it easier for children and young people to communicate

Haringey is looking for volunteers to mentor to young people who will be taking part in a new programme launched by Haringey Fairer Education Fund.

The Fairer Education Fund is a new programme of support for young people applying to higher education. It sets out to make access to higher education fairer, as part of the council’s wider ambitions to create a more equal borough.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a mentor should email an expression of interest to: fairereducation@haringey.gov.uk.

We are looking for mentors from a variety of career and educational backgrounds, so please consider sharing it to your wider networks, partner organisations and others outside of Haringey too. We want to pair mentors and mentees up who have relevant interests and aspirations, to ensure that both parties get the most out of the experience.

We are hoping for a minimum commitment of six months and ideally two hours a month of mentoring (this would equate to two students). Training will be provided and the mentoring itself is expected to begin in the Spring 2021.

Please contact aaron.scorse@haringey.gov.uk if you have any specific questions.