Nurseries counsel grieving families

Cambridgeshire County Council is offering support to nurseries and schools in the area on how staff can best respond to children's questions and upset along with reassuring parents. The council has also set up a helpline.

Anne Seal, nursery manager of the Willows Day Care Nursery in Soham, said, 'The parents are bringing their children into nursery and are wanting support from the nursery staff.

'Everyone's feelings are very raw at the moment and parents want to talk to staff for reassurance and just to express their emotions. Many parents are calling the helpline and we are also obtaining support at the moment from the council on how staff can best help children and parents.

'Children are just starting to talk about what they've heard and how they feel and we are helping them to cope in their own way. It is very difficult to know how the tragedy will affect them and who knows how long for.'

Carole Bales, nursery manager of Little Rascals Day Nursery in nearby Ely, said, 'Obviously everybody is devastated and can't believe this has happened.

'Some of our parents come from Soham and are very close to the whole situation, so they come to the nursery needing to offload and talk to staff on a one-to-one basis. Parents also want reassurance that their children will only be collected by themselves, and of course that is always the case.'

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire County Council said the helpline is staffed by trained counsellors and has received calls from around the UK and abroad. He said, 'We are getting most calls from nine-to 11-year-olds, the same age as Holly and Jessica.

'They're calling because they are worried about their own safety, and some knew the girls personally and are grieving. We are also getting calls from parents of young children because they are having to explain what has happened and want advice. Some children are starting school for the first time in Soham and parents want to know how to reassure them that they will be safe.'

Helpline manager Kala Nobbs said, 'We are advising people to talk to their children and not distract them from what has been going on.

'Parents and carers should give children a chance to say how they are feeling, express their fears and sorrow. They should be able to grieve together.

'Children can react to the tragedy in a number of different ways. Maybe they will become withdrawn and quiet or clingy and tearful. Other children may behave out of character and carers need to ask what is going on.

'Parents and carers should give reassurance and explain to children how they can help to keep themselves safe. They also need this tragedy to be put into context in a way they will understand. Children need to know that there are some bad people around, but that there are not many of them and these events are rare.'