{"id":9560,"date":"2022-07-13T17:08:01","date_gmt":"2022-07-13T16:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.devon.gov.uk\/supportforschools\/?page_id=9560"},"modified":"2026-02-25T09:26:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T09:26:45","slug":"maintaining-connections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/send\/areas-of-need\/social-emotional-and-mental-health\/maintaining-connections\/","title":{"rendered":"Maintaining connections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Maintain connection between children and trusted adults<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The aim of this guide is to support schools to maintain key trusted relationships with children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The guide was developed during COVID lockdowns from questions and ideas taken directly from Devon schools with the intention of sharing good practice and widening understanding. You may still find some of the ideas useful with children and young people who are currently unable to attend school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why does connection matter?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schools provide a safe base for all children. Schools connect individuals, groups and communities through shared experiences and supportive, trusted relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being the significant adult to a child is a vital role within a school or setting. The relationship between the significant adult and the child, instils feelings of safety, security, and belonging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many children will be missing these relationships that are so consistent, reassuring and familiar to them. Maintaining these vital relationships between adults and children in some way during the current climate is important and will help to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sustain trusted relationships<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support the child\u2019s wellbeing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintain a sense of wider belonging and broaden the child\u2019s current social engagement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support successful reintegration back to school life when the time comes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Still together even when apart\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Connection for all<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make use of safe communication tools and online platforms. There are some great examples of creative practice across Devon schools with many different communication tools and platforms being used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Record and upload videos of staff<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set class quizzes\/fun tasks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sing\/sign together<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teacher Q&amp;A sessions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other creative ways to promote a sense of togetherness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A few fun ideas to enhance connection\u2026<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sharing a little joke with your class \u2013 <em>Brampford Speke C of E Primary School<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"An Update from Mrs. Galt and Mrs. Griffiths\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/SwqtiVEpIoc?feature=oembed&#038;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A group of teaching staff share a quiz creatively &#8211; <em>Brampford Speke C of E Primary School<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Brampford Speke Space Quiz Year One\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/SXGy52KjOjQ?feature=oembed&#038;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Q&amp;A session with a class teacher \u2013 <em>Newton St Cyres Primary School<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Mr. Hookway Q&amp;A\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/5MxydztmS2M?feature=oembed&#038;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sharing experiences. Ideas of things to share \u2013 a resource from the <em>MSI &amp; Enabling Team&nbsp;<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC7bJtNsif0HScnnUqfz_4Ww\/videos?disable_polymer=1\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC7bJtNsif0HScnnUqfz_4Ww\/videos?disable_polymer=1<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1:1 connection<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider how the child\u2019s significant, trusted adult can connect with them. Take into account the child\u2019s individual needs, likes and dislikes and connect accordingly. Make use of safe online communication platforms, telephone or post to keep in touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Help the child to know that they can be separate from school\/you but still be thought about. Let them know you are holding them in your mind. \u201cI was thinking of you when I was\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Let them know that you are okay and that you are missing them<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Show interest in what they might have been doing. \u2018I wonder if you have been\u2026\u2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tell them what you have been doing. Share an anecdote. Tell them a joke<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Share a memory of something that you have done together. Something fun. Something they (and you) were proud of. A time when\u2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Share something that you are looking forward to doing with them when you are together again. \u2018What would you like us to do when we see each other again?\u2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Think of a way for the child to be able to respond to you (given the current circumstances) and, equally, let them know that they do not need to respond and that you will be in contact again<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Try to provide some predictability to your contact. The same time\/day every week where possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Useful Links:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/send\/information-by-need\/social-emotional-and-mental-health\/\">Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/send\/areas-of-need\/social-emotional-and-mental-health\/relational-learning\/\">Relational Learning<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coronavirus support for schools, parents and pupils<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember that you can make contact with our SEMH Team for support and advice should you need to &#8211; <a href=\"mailto:send@devon.gov.uk\">send@devon.gov.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maintain connection between children and trusted adults The aim of this guide is to support schools to maintain key trusted relationships with children. The guide [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":981,"featured_media":0,"parent":6320,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-9560","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/981"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9560"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35800,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9560\/revisions\/35800"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}