A TUTOR has set up a meditation class following fears that lockdown has impacted young people's mental wellbeing. 

Emma Tilbury, from Newton-le-Willows, has noticed a change in her students’ confidence and believes this is due to isolating from other pupils.

This is something that recent findings from the government’s COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing report backs up.

The report shows that between March and June 2020, when a lockdown was issued and schools were closed, there was a significant increase in symptoms of depression and post traumatic stress disorder amongst children aged 7.5 to 12 years.

However, some pupils reported feeling and sleeping better during the period of school closure.

Emma offers tutoring at her home on a one-to-one basis and explains that this confidential environment has allowed her students to share their thoughts and feelings.

She said: "I’ve always got this impression that they’re quite lost; they’re all over the place. Since lockdown, I’ve noticed a huge difference in the confidence.

"A lot of the kids that come to me now are a lot more panicky than they used to be. 

"They’re a lot more puzzled, confused, and bewildered by everything that’s going on."

St Helens Star: Emma offers a tutoring service at her home-based office Emma offers a tutoring service at her home-based office (Image: Emma Boyle)

The full-time tutor was also concerned about children and young people’s developments as she noticed a gap in their knowledge.

The 43-year-old added: "The younger kids have got huge gaps in their knowledge and those gaps will never be replaced unless the school puts on extra resources.

"As adults, we struggle to make sense of lockdown and the impact it’s had on every aspect of our lives – how are the children supposed to know that?

"The year group I’ve really noticed it with is the existing year seven, so the students who should’ve done their SATs in year six but didn’t because of lockdown and then went to high school without a proper transition."

Emma has provided her tuition service for over four years to more than 30 students and has now introduced meditation classes to improve young people’s mental wellbeing.

The fully qualified Meditation Teacher is set to begin her mindfulness sessions next month to mentally prepare pupils for the new academic year.

St Helens Star: Mindful: Emma's son Thomas, six, her daughter Poppy, three, and a family friend Mindful: Emma's son Thomas, six, her daughter Poppy, three, and a family friend

The mum-of-two said: "I wanted to do something more spiritual that’s going to help because unless you’re in the right place, you’re not necessarily motivated to do work or get up in the morning.

"I’ve been looking for a while at a way of reaching groups but in a less academic way and a way of getting the kids to connect with each other and with themselves."

The first meditation session will take place on September 4. 

For more information on tuition or meditation sessions, email Emma at emma.tilbury1979@icloud.com. 

To access the full report, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-mental-health-and-wellbeing-surveillance-report/7-children-and-young-people.