Spring 1 2021 Teaching and Learning Newsletter

Engaging children with rewards
during lockdown
By John Richardson
Any staff who have had the privilege of delivering the hot chocolate parcel have their own story to tell.
Pupils are thrilled and overjoyed when they find out they have been nominated. Reactions vary from a
smile that spreads from one ear to the other, running as fast as possible up and down the street, and
jumping up and down to an uncontrollable squealing that is still audible as the deliverer drives away. This
unbridled joy spreads into the online session on a Friday. Parents and pupils sit together with the child
enjoying their hot chocolate and showing pride in the work they have produced in the previous week. It
genuinely is the highlight of the week for me.
Home schooling can be very difficult and stressful for many families. There is considerable additional
effort required from staff in school to make ‘Virtual Hot Chocolate Friday’ happen, but the pride shown
by the nominated pupils and their parents makes that effort pale into insignificance.
In these strangest of times, keeping some normality (whatever that is these days) can have a huge impact
on those pupils learning remotely, their mental health and achievements.
Never undervalue the impact of a sprinkling of positivity – and chocolate.
Take some time this week to think about what you can do to make a positive difference to our children
and young people while we are working largely remotely.
A small gesture can make a huge difference to the right person at the right time.