Mulberry Bush in the UK runs a school with residential therapeutic care, treatment and education for children aged 5-13 who are vulnerable due to their social, emotional and behavioural issues. COVID-19 has left them with the challenge of maintaining the safe running of a residential therapeutic school throughout the pandemic whilst prioritising the wellbeing of both the children and the staff.
The School has devised a modified approach of working therapeutically with much smaller groups of children and staff than it normally would. Children and staff have been divided into three groups and those groups live and work together without coming into any contact with the other groups.
This adaptation to the School’s approach followed a challenging period when 15 children were sent home due to a child displaying symptoms of the virus. This represented a significant transition for the children and the School worked hard to maintain connections with the children while they were away and to prepare them for returning to the School.
The attached resources are part of the How We Care series, an innovative space for those working with children and families to share practice. By practitioners, for practitioners. You can also download the full package of learning, including resources from 2 other Family members, here.
