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Conflict between parents is a normal part of relationships. However, when the conflict is frequent, intense and poorly resolved, it puts children’s mental health, education attainment and long-term outcomes at risk.
The BE project has consulted with Bristol City Council and six pathfinder primary schools to create a range of materials that can be used in school to support children affected by family conflict.
We found that:
Children who see arguments or conflict at home often arrive at school upset or unsettled and can find it hard to concentrate in class.
When parents separate and disagree about child arrangements, it can lead to poor school attendance.
Children and Families might not share what’s going on at home because they’re worried about social services or how others in their family or community might react.
Children are more likely to seek support when they have ongoing relationships with ‘kind’, proactive staff and have a private space where they can talk without being interrupted.
Children like resources that give them the language to share their experiences of conflict without having to directly tell a member of staff (no eye contact).
‘When your grown-ups don’t get along’ (lesson)
Year 5 and 6 Lesson materials: PowerPoint, children’s worksheet, teacher notes, and teacher tutorial video.
A tutorial video for teachers who want to deliver the ‘When your grown-ups don’t get along’ lesson with their Year 5 or 6 classes.
‘Work it out’ (Intervention)
One-to-one and group intervention materials for children affected by family conflict:
All materials have been made in consultation with the staff, students and parents at our pathfinder schools. We would like to thank you for all the support you have given the project!
