In the light of recent events, there has been a great deal of discussion in the media and in communities about the terrorist attacks and the fire. We are aware that children and young people and their families may be experiencing some anxiety about their safety. To assist you in helping them, we have attached a couple of documents which we hope will be useful:
Talking to Children About Terrorism and War
Supporting Pupils Dealing with Difficult Events
The first document, Talking to Children About Terrorism and War was circulated by the Department for Education after the incident at Manchester Arena. It was written to support parents in facing the challenge of explaining violence, terrorism and war to children. Although difficult, these conversations are extremely important. They give parents an opportunity to help their children feel more secure and understand the world in which they live. We are sharing this with you as it will also support teachers and other staff members with these difficult issues.
The second document is called Supporting Children and Young People Dealing with Difficult Events and is a more general set of tips and ideas to support parents, carers and staff in supporting pupils who have experienced difficult events such as bereavement or loss of any kind.
The Educational Psychology Service provides support, advice and guidance to early years settings, schools and other education providers on managing traumatic incidents such as death of a pupil or member of staff. To support this work, the service has recently updated its guidance for educational settings (Managing Traumatic Incidents) this will be published soon.
If you would like further advice or guidance, please contact the Educational Psychology Service on 020 8489 3004 or 020 8489 5039.