Teachers say Grenfell children “re-traumatised” by Covid as school funding is cut

By Julia Gregory, Local Democracy Reporter

Covid has had an “extremely destructive” impact on children affected by the horrific Grenfell disaster, according to some of their teachers.

They are seriously worried by the behaviour of some kids after they returned to school in September following weeks of lockdown.

Sadly, head teachers from North Kensington schools where staff and children were bereaved in the fire, say the pandemic has only made things worse.

The wards around Grenfell are also in the 10 per cent most deprived in the country which only makes the situation more challenging.

To make matters worse, the schools are facing cuts in funding, and four out of the five primary schools close to the Tower are now affected by falling school rolls.

Among their pupils are 400 children affected by the fatal fire in 2017.

Their teachers raised their concerns to Kensington and Chelsea Council’s family services select committee, saying that the pandemic means children have been “re-traumatised”.

Sarah Bouette, who is the executive teacher of St Clement’s and St James’ schools said: “The disaster has had a really staggering effect on children’s health.

“I think we were starting to move forward as a school when we were stopped by Covid coming along.”

“We noticed in September children coming back with behaviour that is causing us concerns.”

Her concerns were echoed by Sarah Cooper, head of Oxford Gardens primary school.

She said: “The recent impact of Covid has been incredibly destructive with regards to the progress that our families have made.”

The head teachers said the increase in mental health issues is “now more evident than ever in our children and their families post Covid”.

They said: “We have all seen a significant increase in children starting school with high needs, many suffering the effects of vicarious trauma and now the effects of lockdown. The extent of this has grown rapidly following the pandemic and placed further strain on an already stretched school system experiencing an age of depleting resources and hardship. “

Katy Blackler, the head of Avondale Park and St Anne’s Federation explained that 90 children are currently back at school – 60 of them are in the cohort whose progress is tracked because of Grenfell.

“At the moment we are really experiencing emotions of anxiety, anger, fear but also loving coming back to school,” she said.

“Anxiety has been heightened.”

She also recounted children’s comments after getting support.

“My brave voice is bigger,” said one, and another told the school: “I’ve learned to react, not to act.” A third child said “I’ve learned to say no.”

She said if the money for support and specially trained staff goes down, the schools will not be able to support children as thoroughly.

Natasha Ellcock who escaped from her 11th floor flat in the Tower with her six-year-old daughter and partner said: “My daughter and all the other children went through a trauma that no one can understand.

Ms Ellcock is a member of bereaved and survivors group Grenfell United said: “For me the children are very very important. It’s their education that suffered  in the aftermath of Grenfell.

“It was the children who suffered the most.”

The primary school heads warned that failure to fund them properly will “seriously inhibit our ability to intervene for the most vulnerable children in this community right now.

It will not only jeopardise their futures but will increase the existing numbers of children and young people following a destructive and harmful alternative path, thus contributing to an additional rise in the numbers engaging in anti-social behaviour.”

They estimate they need an extra £1.3m a year for the next four years to help deal with the situation.

The Grenfell Education Fund, allocated to support local schools, is £4.4m between 2017 and 2021, including £2.6m targeted support.

Ian Heggs, the council’s director of education said there was a further £.5m funding next year.

The council says the funding plays a key role in tackling problems such as exclusion rates, knife crime and gang crime “which contribute to the rise in intergenerational poverty, mental health issues and teenage suicide”.

Amie Kelleher, the head of  St Francis of Assisi Primary, which is close to the Tower  said this term the school has had to bring more children back during the lockdown as Covid has compounded their trauma.

She said funding cuts caused by falling school rolls will also have an effect.

“The biggest impact is on our staff – the trained staff we’ve invested in. They are the right people to give support and the school needs them to help them get on track and help them recover.

“This isn’t over –  the Tower will come down at some point soon and we need to be there to support them.”

David Benson, the head teacher of secondary school  Kensington Aldridge Academy which is next to Grenfell Tower stressed: “We need to keep going, we need to keep the resources in place and we need to be patient because it will be several years in place.”

David Sellens, the head teacher of Thomas Jones Primary said because of the pandemic “wounds that had begun to heal have opened again.”

He said schools need funding to support children, with their ongoing emotional needs. The schools have funded counsellors and employ teaching and classroom assistants with ELSA skills – emotional literacy support assistants who work with children who are having difficulties.

Pictured top: David Sellens, headteacher of Thomas Jones School