As we are about to go ‘OOO’, close up the classrooms and sit in queues once more. Therefore, I thought it was high time to reflect on where we are in education (politics aside) and focus on what we can do over this summer - again another one unlike any other. 

The cost of living crisis is real - not just for our students and families, but many of our staff too. We know that things now are worse than during the pandemic. 

“A total of 1.6 million more households are struggling than the last time the study of 6,000 households reported nine months ago. It brings to 4.4 million – one in six – the number of households estimated to be in “serious financial difficulties” across the whole population.”

I have personally been told of families of 4 taking weekly showers. People are pawning possessions, cutting back on food and fuel, but let’s not go with the blanket phrases of “vulnerable” and “disadvantaged” here - let reflect on those who are already the worst hit; humans who are described as having a low socioeconomic status, those people on a low salary or Universal Credit, single parents, people in rented accommodation, disabled people and their families, and those families with three or more children are worst affected - and the intersectionality of these elements are worse off.

I ran a poll on Twitter to gauge opinion and 86.7% of those who voted said ‘Yes” teachers and education are worried about the #CostOfLiving. Comments often cited that teachers were more worried about their students and families than themselves but petrol prices were the main issue, with living costs for support staff a close second. 

Other threads by teachers on this - with solutions include this excellent thread by @EmilyWeston a Year 6 teacher. 

We all know that our current state sector for education is transformational - and it should be - but currently education can transform lives for the worse. We know that this includes universities favouring our middle classes, systemic racism (and again here) and sexism (thanks to Collective members ‘End Sexism in Schools’!, we have a cost of living crisis that impacts on our finances and mental health. 

Reviewing the very recent Pearson report (July 2022), I believe that there are two key issues for us to consider in light of the cost of living crisis this summer, are:

1. Half of teachers think poverty will be a barrier to pupil learning in their school in the next six months. In deprived schools, half of teachers think hunger will be a barrier to pupil learning in their school in the next six months. 

2. 40% of teachers think that the current education system does not effectively support aspiration and achievement among even advantaged pupils, with other minority groups disproportionately affected. 6 out of 10 want mental health integrated into the curriculum for students too. 

We have decided to do something about this and I want to share some ideas with you.  

Already the GEC App for Education helps nurseries, schools and colleges get their diversity and inclusion together - including single parents, socio-economic status in the assessments for all staff - and then includes CPD on everything diversity, equity, inclusion and sustainability for all. But we know the impact of DEI and mental health. Especially over the summer holidays - where many children miss the routines and relationships of school time and teacher hit burn out after exam season and two years of lockdown. But more than that - educators do too. We want to help. 

WHERE TO START?

There is a crisis in mental health for many students. This article illustrates that for most children “there is nothing wrong” with them - but transition, exam, bullying and mental health (and illnesses - why so binary?) of the adults around them WILL impact them in the run up to the summer and during. 

So, let’s take action, the GEC way, and look at what we can do best to serve them - immediately. 

WATCH

If your parents struggled with their mental health, poverty or anything in between this documentary is worth watching - if you did not experience this, you MUST watch it. The new BBC documentary with Joe Wicks on ‘Facing My Childhood’ do. This illustrates the impact of parental mental health on us as children. 

Watch this snippet here. We know that many adults are undiagnosed still with mental health issues and the current issues facing us all this summer will mean that not just temperatures will raise, but tempers and anxiety levels in homes across the country. 

Therefore it is important for us to signpost support - and so much of it is free - that can help not only the young people but the grown ups around them too. 

If you are a GEC school and would like us to help your parents, please get in touch as we have a few ideas of what we can put in place for you now or in the autumn. 

LINKS

In the meantime, here are some free resources for you:

BBC Bitesize for students on mental health with Joe Wicks 

Free Mental Health First Aid Kit to share with parents and carers (and your staff too!) 

GEC MENTAL HEALTH PARTNER - MEET KOOTH

Please welcome Kooth - our newest partner for GEC Education.

Kooth is a free, safe and anonymous place for young people to find online support and counselling. Trusted by the NHS (and GEC!) and available 24/7…all you need to do is sign up! They are really keen in helping students, facing the summer, transition anxiety, mental health of them or their families.

There's a bunch of features and tools to support you if you're looking for advice or simply aren't feeling your best, the choice is yours. And remember, as a completely anonymous service, nothing can be traced back to you or passed on to anyone, so you can be as honest as you want and get the support you need. Watch this video to find out more

As the only BACP (the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited digital platform in the UK, we at the GEC are proud to signpost this incredible organisation as we know that you’re in the safest of hands. Kooth is available immediately at your fingertips to provide discreet help via any internet-connected device (mobile phone / tablet / laptop). It’s free for any user - visit kooth.com, simply check availability in your area, click to register, and follow the instructions.

Kooth is very GEC and has been designed using feedback from children and young people - you know we love a ‘collective’ approach to things! 

We know how you want to access and engage with services, and what you want to know. To date 526,000 CYP have accessed Kooth and 94% would recommend Kooth to a friend. Please share in your end of term newsletters, on social media over the summer or get in touch with either Kooth or the GEC if you wish to know more. 

Choose from a blend of options to provide you with support you need, on your own terms. You can access:

💬  One-to-one counselling sessions: For when you want to talk to a professional through either booked or drop in sessions. Our qualified practitioners are real people, not bots, and available to talk about anything that might be bothering you.

📝  Articles: A place full of opinions, creative pieces and personal experiences, written by young people - 70% of articles are created by users just like you and others by Kooth’s clinical team. They are moderated and approved by our clinically-trained content team.

👋   Discussion Boards: to talk directly with our Kooth community and those going through similar experiences to you. And live forums, where you can discuss your mental health, and other topics with others. 

📖  Online Daily Journal and interactive goal tracker: to monitor your wellbeing - feelings and emotions - and reflect on how you’re doing. This can help you identify behaviours or events that tend to make you feel good, as well as those that make you feel less positive.

💡  Activities: to help you think about your wellbeing. From support on how to express yourself, manage your emotions, help you connect with others and build healthy habits. 

To access these support options, simply visit  kooth.com, check availability in your area, click to register, and follow the instructions.

QWELL 

For adults, please check out the sister offer of Qwell - we recommend this for teachers, educators and parents alike.

POVERTY (TEACHERS)

GEC friends, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have found this: 

• 14.2 million people are in poverty, including 4.5 million children, 8.4 million working-age adults; and 1.4 million pensioners. The new measure has demonstrated that more children and working-age adults are in poverty, and somewhat fewer pensioners than we’d thought previously.

• Nearly half of people locked in poverty (6.9 million) are disabled themselves or live in a family with someone who is.

• One in eight people in the UK is in persistent poverty: they are in poverty now and have been in poverty in at least two of the previous three years. Persistent poverty is highest for those in workless families and disabled families.

• Around 8.2 million people are more than 25% below the poverty line, and 2.5 million people are less than 10% above it.

Now reread that. Now think about who are the biggest scroungers in our society.  

We know there are national cries for systemic change and improvement from incredible people and charities, like these seen here, but what can you do to support your staff first? 

Super Markets
If you are a teacher and struggling with your cash flow, check out how supermarkets are now helping. Read this article and then see how your local supermarkets can help your shopping baskets this summer. 

Family Action
We would recommend you visit and share details of Family Action with your community if you have not already. https://www.family-action.org.uk/

All the Single Parents
Gingerbread are our go to for single parent support and please check out Single Parents Rights with our GEC member, Ruth Talbot here. 

If you are a leader, the GEC App will help you find the blindspots in your community - with our GEC Staff Assessment which asks staff not only about their own socio-economic status but their understanding (and attitudes towards) students and families - with a range of training materials and research to help check privileges and support true inclusion in your practice and policies. Check us out - and the great news is that we won’t break the bank!