Schools offered help to support students affected by pandemic

Schools in the High Peak and across Derbyshire are being offered help from Derbyshire County Council to support their students who may be dealing with the emotional impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Free online training for school staff is available from November to March 2021 with the course based on a nationally developed training package provided by the Department for Education.

The course covers a range of topics including loss, bereavement, trauma, neuroscience, anxiety and low mood.

School staff will also be made aware of how they can get further help for any students they are concerned about. The course is for senior leaders in schools, pastoral support staff, school nurses or special educational needs co-ordinators. Those who take part in the course will then be asked to train others in their school.

Cllr Alex Dale, DCC's Cabinet Member for Young People, said: “The pandemic has affected all our lives, including our young people, and we know that for some of them their mental health has been affected.

“We want to do all we can to support our schools support their students with any issues that they may be facing.

“We’ve taken a nationally developed training package and tailored it so that it is suitable for our schools.

“I’d urge all schools to look carefully at this free training and make sure that there is at least one member of staff attending. We have various dates and times, including twilight sessions, to make it as easy as possible for them to be able to take part, and then share their learning with the rest of their school staff.”

The training is available free of charge to all schools, academies and FE colleges in Derbyshire.