Everyone experiences life events, in their immediate or wider world, that can provoke anxiety.

For most children and young people this will be low to moderate anxiety that will be supported through universal supports provided by those closest to them.

For some children and young people this anxiety may be moderate to high and/or more prolonged. There may be specific reasons for this, eg. they already have vulnerabilities or additional support needs that may make formal assessments more stressful for them; they have family members living in conflict regions of the world.

The assessment and intervention approaches provided in this toolkit should be followed to fully understand and support a child/young person’s wellbeing.

War and conflict in countries around the world                                             (including the current war in Ukraine)

Resources and links to support schools and parents/carers 

How to talk to your teenager about the invasion of Ukraine: tips for parents and carers – Parents’ Toolkit – BBC Bitesize

Social story about war in Ukraine

Trauma informed schools UK. Ways to speak to children about events in Ukraine

Barnardos. Talking to children about war.

Scottish Government (2022). Ukraine Psychological Wellbeing Advice Pack – Guidance for Services. 

Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection (CELCIS) (2022). Supporting child refugees and their families.

Children who have parents in the Armed Forces

Forces Children’s Education: Supporting Armed forces families in Scotland (November 2021) Teacher Toolkit

Exam stress

 

Exam Stress: A guide for young people                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Exam Stress Information 

Coronavirus

We have produced the following documents to consult if there are concerns about a child’s wellbeing considered to have emerged or contributed to as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This includes difficulties arising in returning to school following school closures due to coronavirus (March to August 2020; January to March 2021). These documents also have relevant content if children/young people have to be away from school due to self-isolation, quarantine or other non-coronavirus related reasons.

Understanding and responding to anxieties in children that may arise from covid-19 and returning to school.

Supporting Successful Transitions: Recovery & Equity (Supporting Wellbeing & Achievement)

Falkirk Council Children’s Services Moving on Successfully, Early Year/Early Level guidance including Transitions 2020 Early years poster (Falkirk Educational Psychology Service)

There is further content related to coronavirus in the materials and guidance section and our blog for parents and practitioners

Autism and anxiety-related school absence

National Autism Implementation Team (NAIT) (2020). Anxiety Related Absence: A guide for practice.