Back to school anxiety: What is it and how can you help your children?

ITV Wales' Siôn Jenkins caught up with 14-year-old Darcie, who's about to start Year 10, to find out how pupils are preparing for the return to school.

As children return to the classroom in Wales, many are reportedly feeling anxious, especially as the threat of Covid-19 continues and rates are increasing across the country.

The Welsh Government is trying to reassure people that it is safe to go back and has established Covid-19 guidance for schools and local authorities to follow.

Schools have until 20 September to put appropriate safety measure in place and manage the level of risk for their staff and students.

But even with the safety guidance, some children, teachers and parents still feel worried about what lies ahead.

Darcie Wheddon from Cardiff is about to start her GCSEs. But despite this new chapter in her life, she feels nervous about going back to school and anxious about getting coronavirus.

"I'm very distressed about this whole thing, because it's crazy. Never in my lifetime would I've thought something like this could happen.

"I'm very concerned. My family have had their vaccines but I don't want to catch the virus, I don't want my mum to catch it and my brother."

On top of her fears, Darcie feels like she has missed out on a lot of learning during the pandemic.

"The school is going to do all it can to make us catch up but I'm concerned that I haven't had the best support through lockdown with my learning.

"I've missed out on a lot of work."

For Darcie's mum Kayleigh, it is a relief her children can go back to school as she says she found home-schooling difficult.

"I have struggled because I have a 14-year-old and a seven-year-old and they're on completely different levels at school, so as you can imagine it's been really difficult trying to help with them with their work."

But Kayleigh also has concerns about her children going back into the classroom with lots of other people.

Kyle Davies, a psychologist in Cardiff, has offered advice on how to help your children if they are nervous about going back to school.

He says that "with the uncertainty, the tension and anxiety out there, it is probably harder for children than it has ever been.

"So it's not surprising children may be feeling apprehensive or anxious about this return to school."

• What things can parents do to help their children?

For Kyle it is about normalising the situation and not treating it like a problem.

He says children feeling nervous about going back to school is natural and it is a way their bodies are responding to what is about to come.

• What signs should parents be looking out for if they think their child is anxious?

Kyle says most parents will be able to spot if their children are out of sorts but as he says here there are several signs to look out for:

As well as looking out for the signs, Kyle says parents must create a space for their children where they are present and able to listen to their worries.

He also advises parents not to try and solve the problem but simply be there for their children and allow them to speak freely about how they are feeling.

• With misinformation about Covid-19 online, what should parents do to make sure children do not always believe what they see on social media?

Kyle believes that managing what youngsters see about coronavirus on social media is really important.

He says that starts with having an open conversation with them about what they have seen.

As schools reopen, the Welsh Government says it wants them to operate as "business as usual", as far as possible.

To achieve this, staff in primary and secondary schools and students in secondary schools and colleges, are being asked to take regular rapid lateral flow tests twice a week, so outbreaks can be detected.

They have also stressed that adequate ventilation is important, as well as regular hand-washing and maintaining appropriate levels of cleaning.

The government has said with the overall risk level being low, schools will only need to put additional measures in place "if the local risks differ from this national rating."

It comes after the country moved to Alert Level 0 in August.