TEACHERS are being urged to seek specialist help for pupils struggling to cope with going back to school.
Children are returning to the classroom full-time this week for the first time since March.
A poll conducted by Barnardo's suggests hundreds of thousands of young people in Britain and Northern Ireland could refuse to attend.
Others are nervous, upset and scared, the charity found.
Barnardo's said there was a `trauma gap' between some classmates who may cope well with the return and others who may have not been previously vulnerable but are now struggling to cope because of the effects of Covid-19 and lockdown.
The See, Hear, Respond scheme supports children with anxiety disorders related to bullying, hate crime and racism, or anxiety in general. It provides support to all children, including those moving to secondary school, or who have had fixed term exclusions and may also need significant help.
It also brings together all the people required to help a child return to school, to identify the practical and emotional support they need. Trained therapists work closely with children, parents or carers, and their school, to help them get back in the classroom.
They can also do group work with classes or specific groups of children.
"Returning to school may seem very difficult, but with the right support it means the best chance of a positive future. The sooner support starts, the better the return to school will be," Barnardo's Chief Executive Javed Khan said.
"Lockdown has been especially hard for vulnerable children who are now facing not only an attainment gap but also a trauma gap compared to their classmates. Barnardo's specially trained staff are available through our See, Hear, Respond service to support them, and I urge teachers to get in touch if any of their pupils are struggling."
Action for Children's See, Hear, Respond Operational Director Kate Isham said the pandemic had triggered fear and anxiety for parents and children "on a worrying scale".
She said families were feeling overwhelmed and uncertain how to navigate the crisis.
Meanwhile, nearly nine in 10 teachers believe staying socially distant from both pupils and other staff will not be achievable.
A poll of nearly 6,000 school staff found that 86 per cent of respondents said minimising contact between pupils will not be possible, while two thirds fear guidance to avoid busy corridors, entrances and exits is unrealistic.
The wide-ranging survey by TES also found than more than a quarter of staff may not comply with a test and trace programme should there be a Covid-19 outbreak at their school.
