Siblings will be starting to go back to school soon and although it will be good to catch up with friends, things might feel a bit different too. This might be because

• you have not been to school for some time and are worried about getting back into a school routine
• you have enjoyed being away from school and found life easier in some ways
• you feel that your parent has become used to you helping out and will struggle without you
• you are worried that your brother or sister may miss you as they have got used to you being around more
• it’s worrying using public transport
• you haven’t been able to keep up with schoolwork
• you might have to wear a mask around school
• you might have to have Covid testing in school

If you are worrying about any of these things it’s really important that you talk to a teacher or member of school staff and ask for help. This might be

• asking if you can wear a face mask to help you feel safe
• asking if you can be excused from wearing a face mask if you have a reason for this
• asking for extra time with homework or help catching up with what you’ve missed
• help getting a new uniform if your parent hasn’t been able to shop for you
• help finding a safe space to go to if things get too much
• asking about different transport options

It’s also really important to take care of yourself and be kind to yourself. Have a look at our pages on Mental health and wellbeing. You’ll get ideas on how to look after your mental health which is really important for everyone.

Let us know how you get on going back to school and how things have changed for you.