Nursery World - Trauma measures for children at nurseries in foot and mouth areas

Nurseries and pre-schools in rural parts of England and Scotland are struggling with the psychological impact on children of the foot and mouth epidemic. Some nurseries and pre-schools are using circle time to deal with children's worries that farm animals are being burnt alive and fears that their domestic pets will be affected. One teacher reported children drawing pictures of trenches being dug - but at least one child was excited about the mechanical diggers.

Some nurseries and pre-schools are using circle time to deal with children's worries that farm animals are being burnt alive and fears that their domestic pets will be affected. One teacher reported children drawing pictures of trenches being dug - but at least one child was excited about the mechanical diggers.

In Dumfries and Galloway, which has 135 reported cases, the local authority has counsellors available to help children traumatised by the outbreak. Education department administrative officer Nancy Ellis said, 'The education department has sent letters out to all schools saying that we can arrange counselling sessions for children. We have made it clear that the counselling is here but we do depend on the headteachers sensitively approaching affected families.

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