Sunderland headteacher on school life under lockdown

John Howe is the headteacher of Seaburn Dene Primary School in Sunderland.
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Here he gives a unique insight to Echo readers about what it is like to manage a school during lockdown...

When the national lockdown was announced on Monday at 8pm and schools were told to close the next day by the Prime Minister, it is important to point out that schools received no prior warning and that we understood schools wouldn’t be closed, at all – we are very much open.

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This lockdown, we, like every other school in Sunderland remain open for vulnerable children and the children of critical and key workers in our community. Of course, we know this virulent strain of Covid-19 is more transmissible, that infection rates in Sunderland are rising alarmingly and pose a greater threat to the health of people in our city. Staff in school are worried parents, maintain their own support bubbles and, in some cases, are vulnerable themselves – yet come into school willingly to ensure that there is a safe haven for children who need it.

John Howe, headteacher at Seaburn Dene Primary School.John Howe, headteacher at Seaburn Dene Primary School.
John Howe, headteacher at Seaburn Dene Primary School.

I also feel for families who have had to scramble to make last minute arrangements in light of the Prime Minister’s late announcement. I know how challenging it will have been for many to arrange childcare at such short notice and how clearly disappointed our children would have been to wake up to find out that they could no longer return to school on Tuesday – as they would have expected.

As a parent myself, I too feel immensely saddened that my own children cannot see their teachers and friends this week (and for the next six…), while as a headteacher, it remains incredibly frustrating that school plans have had to change so quickly in response to the heightening restrictions.

Against that background, circumstances – this lockdown - have changed significantly and it’s worth repeating, again: schools are not closed.

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Applications for places for places for the children of key workers this time around is far higher than in March and we are trying to meet this huge, but necessary demand, while keeping our school safe and delivering high quality, curriculum-led remote learning. We are not alone, certainly in the north of the city, it’s a similar picture and for all I believe a delicate balancing act on shifting sands.

Seaburn Dene Primary School.Seaburn Dene Primary School.
Seaburn Dene Primary School.

I have had to blunt with our school community about the potential pressure this has placed on school. Thankfully, our parents have been patient, supportive and understanding as we deal with this eleventh hour seismic change, on the back of a very late, but understandable announcement from the Prime Minister.

I count myself lucky. Seaburn Dene has an experienced and hugely dedicated staff team, who care, above all, for our children. They are working harder than ever for them, in school and out, from making and delivering free school meals to carrying out daily welfare calls and keeping track of pupils’ remote learning online.

Everything we do as a staff team is with the health and happiness of our children at its heart. Our children are amazing. They are shining beacons of light, hope and resilience and we will ensure that we keep that light shining, even in these most uncertain and worrying of times. I often use a word to describe this characteristic which we are seeing in our children: grit.

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Through all of this, I have told our parents that the most important outcome of this (and previous) lockdowns is that we all come through this pandemic, both physically and mentally.

Parents have been massively supportive and understand the situation we have been placed in with little to no warning, sending us messages of support, which are much needed and have provided a morale boost in the last few days. We see Seaburn Dene as a family, a community to lean into and the kindness and respect which we promote as a school value is needed now more than ever.

As many parents approach home learning again, I believe they need to understand that most of the children caught up on their missed learning last term – so we can help them catch up again. There is more to child development than academic attainment, which isn’t an excuse for us all to not try and help children continue their learning over lockdown, or allowing the children to do no learning during the next six or more weeks. It’s about striking a balance for us all.

Ultimately, I believe our children will be okay and if a parent explains something incorrectly – it will not effect them for ever. We need the children back with us, with well parents, when we get out of this situation. When we’re are all back together again physically, we will work with our children and help them catch up again. Educationally, we will - together make it okay in the end.

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We learnt a lot from the last lockdown and I believe a strong community with a sense of togetherness can make a significant difference to how we move through this and emerge at the other end.

At Seaburn Dene, our vision is that “we always try to be that little better.” Now that is being tested more than ever. However, I believe every day, we get up, have a go, take on challenges, make mistakes, learn from them and show our determination. Our children will lead the way.

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