Pupils play this summer rather than facing more lessons
Youngsters will be able to play with their friends this summer to aid their mental health, child psychologists have said.
PlayFirstUK, several experts in child advancement, have created to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson contacting for strategies to reopen colleges and ease lockdown constraints to prioritise the community and mental wellbeing of pupils.
The group, which includes 15 child psychologists and education professionnals led by Professor Helen Dodd from the University of Reading, said children in England ought to be exempt from the rule of two when it is safe to take action. They warned ideas for intensive "capture up" activity and summertime schools may worsen adolescent people's mental health and wellness, and instead needed children to be encouraged to invest time outdoors, be physically active and take up with friends. "Our kids have missed from enough in the last year, they deserve a summer months filled with take up."-Prof Helen Dodd.
In the letter, they said: "This spring and summer should not be filled up with extra lessons; kids, teachers and parents need period and space to recover from the strain that days gone by year has positioned on them." THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT is reported to be considering several options - including summer universities, extended college days and shorter summer holidays - within catch-up ideas for pupils who've missed out on learning because of Covid-19. Prof Dodd said: "If we don't get this proper we run the risk of pushing struggling kids back into a pressured educational environment, that could cause further harm to their mental health and development.
"Our children have missed out on enough in the last year, they deserve a summer filled with take up." Dr Kathryn Lester, senior lecturer in developmental psychology at the University of Sussex, stated: "As lockdown eases, what children want is the period and space to reconnect and take up with their friends because this is very important to their mental wellbeing and their educational achievement." It comes as scientific trials are established to get started to examine the effectiveness of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in children and young persons aged between six and 17.
The first vaccinations beneath the trial will need place this month, with up to 240 children getting the vaccine and others acquiring a control meningitis jab.
