Ms Anne Tansey:

We are expecting that while there may be some levels of anxiety and worry about the return to school, we expect that most children will come to school and that they will, after a settling in period, settle back in to, and re-engage with, learning. The approach we are taking is to support schools in how best to provide that universal response that we are advocating, which is proactively looking at re-establishing good routines, healthy eating, taking exercise, and being creative. We are recommending that schools give students time to tell their stories and to express either narratively or through creative activities their own experiences of Covid-19 and to accept and be tolerant of all children's experiences in that respect. This is something that with support all teachers can provide and these are the types of universal interventions that are needed to return children to regular learning within the school setting.

People are naturally resilient and most of us will adapt when we are provided with practical and empathetic supports. That is what we are largely advocating within the school setting and we will support teachers with that through our own support services and through our engagement with schools as they reopen.