It is with some trepidation that most of us are approaching the return to face to face teaching. The last couple of months have been challenging for everyone, but parents have really had a lot a lot to deal with. It is parents who have had to rapidly rise up to meet the challenge of lockdown, suddenly taking on myriad roles with little preparation and varying support. Talk about being thrown in at the deep end. What's been wonderful is how well so many parents have kept the wheels turning, often with the added bonus of some wry humour.

Managing children, home schooling, work and COVD-19 restrictions has been an unprecedented juggling act. With three teenage boys learning at home we had our fair share of memorable moments in our household. Some of us have coped well, while many of us have struggled at least some of the time, but we are coming out of this with our eyes open and with the benefit of huge insight into our children's schooling. We have witnessed close up the amazing dedication and professionalism of many teachers, the resourcefulness of our schools, and what kids are being taught in the curriculum, but also the importance of our role.

We have had time to gain detailed knowledge of what and how our children are being taught and what and how they learn. We are more engaged in their education than ever before, and there is no going back. Parents have learnt a lot from COVID-19.

With all our new found knowledge and engagement in our children's education, now is an opportunity to build stronger and more open relationships between families and teachers. Our most recent survey of parents showed that many parents were frustrated by the quality of communication between school and home. This was before COVID-19. (See the report below in this newsletter for more.) The current upheaval has made the benefits of meaningful communication even greater.

This provides a golden opportunity to reset the relationship between the two most important figures in most children's lives - parents and teachers.

Parents need to be recognised as partners in the transition back to school. We can provide valuable context to teachers about our child's learning at home, as well as their mental well-being. We know first hand the level of anxiety our child is experiencing.

The news that schools have extra resources to help students catch up on their learning and support their mental health is very welcome. We know the fallout is likely to be considerable.

Parents also need more information and support. Many of us want to understand exactly what measures are being taken at school to protect children, teachers, staff, parents and our community, how students will be kept safe on public transport to and from school, why has the plan for a staged return now been collapsed in some states, what will happen if there's a new outbreak, and many more questions. At the moment this information is not being openly shared with parents.

A staged return to the classroom also leaves many families juggling kids in school and kids at home simultaneously, at least in the short term, assuming things go well.

In the longer term, advice that children be kept home for a full two weeks if they show even minor symptoms, means that parents will also have to be home for extended periods to care for them. If the average kindy kid gets 4-5 colds a year, this quickly adds up. So APC is calling on governments and employers to continue to provide flexible work from home options and more carers' leave.

We'd also like to see stability in schooling provision for children. Many non-government schools are already trying to support families who are suffering financially at the moment. Being able to stay at your school, with your friends, familiar teachers and routines, will help children settle again and reduce anxiety. This may require extra support for some schools, or sectors, but the overriding consideration should be the well-being of students. 

In the meantime, the APC team wishes everyone well as kids, teachers and families adjust back to classroom teaching at school and we all get used to the new normal - whatever it is.

Take care and stay safe.

Jennifer Rickard, APC President