SuperValu and AsIAm, in collaboration with Mary Immaculate College, have announced the return of the 'Bridge Back to School' learning resource.
The resource was first launched in July 2020, and helped thousands of families prepare for the return to education after an extended break due to COVID-19.
Challenges
Special schools opened this month at half capacity, and from next Monday special classes will open again. The AsIAm resource will help students, teachers, SNAs, and parents to support their children as they go back to school, either now or later this year.
From 19 February, the resource will be available in every SuperValu to support families in re-establishing routines that may have been disrupted with the closure of schools, and prepare them for a return to school when the time comes.
An AsIAm booklet will be sent to every primary school in the country and 10,000 of the resource booklets will be distributed to SuperValu stores nationwide. These are available to pick up from 19 February in all SuperValu stores, and can be downloaded from the SuperValu website.
High Support Needs
According to Professor Emer Ring, who was among the Mary Immaculate College group who worked with Supervalu and AsIAm to develop the resource, it offers "essential guidance for those with high support needs that will find the transition back to school a particular challenge".
Chief executive of AsIAm, Adam Harris, said, "not only have the changes in routine and lack of support been a challenge for autistic students, but re-establishing routine will be just as challenging."
Elements of the circumstances that autistic students might find difficult to navigate were identified and focused on in the resource, including sensory integration, dealing with worry and anxiety, and explaining the “new normal”.
Ian Allen, managing director, SuperValu, said the retailer is "delighted that we can again provide that support to families as they return to school over the coming months."
© 2021 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Conor Farrelly. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.
