Miss Hassan is a teaching assistant at a secondary school in Exeter. She often supports a teenage boy called Ali, who has dyslexia, with his written work.

During one of their one-to-one sessions, Ali seems preoccupied and distracted. Miss Hassan asks him if everything is ok and he tells her that he can’t stop thinking about a new Coronavirus variant that he heard about on the radio on the way into school. He says that he mentioned it to his friends on the bus and one of them told him that it’s the deadliest strain yet and no vaccine is effective against it. Miss Hassan knows that Ali’s father has a medical condition that makes him vulnerable to infectious disease.

1. How would you respond to what sounds like misinformation from Ali’s friend on the bus?
2. How could you help to reassure Ali?
3. Would you consider the Coronavirus pandemic an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE)?

It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the responses you have to the above scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague or friend and ask them to tell you whether they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your assessor.