Lockdown has a been a journey...for everyone. Year 6 (Primary 7) learners across the UK have had a different kind of transition experience. The class of 2020 in Aberbargoed Primary were offered a 'Summer School' as part of their approach and we were delighted to be invited to take part in Week One. A mini-project 'From Here To There'! It gave an opportunity to reflect on past projects whilst also engaging in new experiences and connecting to the future. 

The first time we met these learners, they were Year 3. They have grown! It was an absolute pleasure to reconnect. Laughter, smiles, humour, concentration, enthusiasm, community. The two days were full of moments that we will treasure. The power of a smile. The power of community. Aberbargoed Primary - you have that power. 

Best wishes to all those Year 6 learners as they embark on the next step of their journey. ?

​Plus ça change, plus ce la meme chose!
The more things change…the more they stay the same.
 
Lockdown, social distancing, shielding, family bubbles. How quickly these words have become part of our everyday vocabulary. With the arrival of the covid-19 coronavirus, the world changed and the world had to respond to change.
 
Just days before lockdown, we witnessed education professionals, grappling with the challenges of how they were going to provide some kind of education continuity for their learners. How? When? What? Who? Why? All valid questions which were often met with responses which would sometimes be invalidated the following day. 
 
It was, and still is collaborative problem-solving, which we could not have imagined three months ago. 
 
However, despite the unprecedented nature of the challenge (perhaps requiring specific, new knowledge and technical skills) the ‘big questions’ remain the same and so do the generic skills and attitudes required to respond to them successfully?
 
‘How do make sure this is learning environment is fair?’ ‘How do make sure this learning environment is safe (both physically and emotionally).’ ‘How do we make sure everyone feels valued?’ ‘How do we make sure everyone engages fully?’
 
However different the ‘new normal’ appears, if we are able to respond effectively to these ‘old’ questions, then continuity will be achieved.