When we think about the festive season, we often picture warmth, family and rest.
But for many young people, especially those who rely on school-based support, winter can feel very different.
Routines stop.
Mentors and tutors pause.
And the young people who most need stability can suddenly feel like the floor has dropped away beneath them.
This is exactly why we do what we do at Lexia.
Because what young people need this holiday isn’t just presents or parties. What young people need this holiday is to feel held in mind, cared for, and prepared for the weeks when their usual 1:1 support isn’t there.
Why the holidays can be hard
what young people need this holiday
In term time, many children have a careful web of support around them:
- A mentor who checks in every day
- A tutor who supports them with their education
- A structure to their day, a timetable
When school closes, much of that disappears overnight.
For young people who experience SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) and/or SEN (Special Educational Needs), the holiday break can mean:
- Less routine and more uncertainty
- More time in environments that may feel chaotic or unsafe
- Fewer chances to talk to trusted adults
- More time to sit with big feelings they don’t yet have tools to manage
By the time January comes, some children return to school dysregulated, exhausted or “switched off”.
To staff, they can look “difficult”, “defiant”, or “unmotivated”. In reality, many are simply overwhelmed and out of practice at feeling safe and settled.
What young people need this holiday
safety, structure and to be remembered
In the run-up to the holidays, our mentors and tutors focus on leaving young people with:
- Emotional tools
Simple, practical strategies to calm their bodies and minds when things feel too much – breathing exercises, grounding activities, ways to ask for help. - Predictability
Talking with them about what the holidays might look like: who they might see, what might feel hard, and what they can do if they feel overwhelmed. - Reassurance
Making it clear: “I’ll be back next term. You’re not being left.” This sense of being remembered matters more than we often realise. - Small, meaningful goals
Maybe it’s reading a short book, or practising a skill. Something that keeps their sense of progress alive.
What young people need this holiday is not perfection. It’s connection, consistency, and the feeling that the adults who support them haven’t disappeared, even if they’re not seeing them every day.
How Lexia mentors and tutors prepare children for the break
Our mentors and tutors know that the weeks before the holidays are crucial.
We use that time to:
- Name the change
We don’t pretend nothing is different. We talk honestly:
“School will be closed for a few weeks. We won’t see each other, but I’ll be back in January. Let’s think together about what you might need in that time.” - Create a “holiday support plan”
Together with the young person, we map out:
– Who they can talk to at home
– What helps when they feel overwhelmed
– Things they can look forward to
– People they can go to if they feel unsafe - Involve school and carers where possible
We share what we’ve learned (with consent and safeguarding in mind) so that teachers, parents and carers know what works well for that child. - Leave behind care, not just contact
A mentor session isn’t just a slot on a timetable. It’s a relationship.
We want every young person to finish the term thinking, “I still matter. They will come back.”
The power of consistency: the same adults, back in the new year
One of the most important things we offer at Lexia is continuity.
We don’t want a young person to meet a new face every half term. We always aim for the same mentor or tutor to return to the same child after the holidays.
That consistency means:
- The adult already understands their triggers and strengths
- Trust can deepen over time, rather than starting from scratch
- January feels less like a shock and more like a “welcome back”
For a young person who doesn’t have many stable adults in their life, knowing, “My mentor will be back for me” can be a lifeline.
A great mentor/tutor doesn’t just help with schoolwork. They help a young person believe in themselves and what they’re capable of, even when life feels messy. And that belief carries through the holidays.
How schools, parents and carers can support what young people need this holiday
You don’t have to fix everything. But you can make a real difference by focusing on a few key things.
For schools:
- Work with partners like Lexia to create a transition plan into and out of the holidays
- Share clear information with families about support available during the break
- Make space in January for settling back in, not just jumping straight to “catch-up”
For parents and carers:
- Keep routines where possible (small daily rituals)
- Notice behaviour changes as communication, not “naughtiness”
- Offer simple check-ins: “How are you really feeling today?”
- Use any tools or strategies shared by mentors or tutors
For the wider community:
- Be the kind, steady adult in your corner of the world
- Offer warmth, patience and understanding to young people who seem “hard work” – there’s almost always more going on underneath
How Lexia can walk alongside you
At Lexia Education Services, we specialise in mentoring and tuition for vulnerable young people.
We focus on:
- Building trusting, 1:1 relationships
- Supporting emotional regulation, not just academic targets
- Preparing young people for the breaks in support – like the holidays – that can feel scary
- Ensuring the same mentors and tutors return where possible, so trust isn’t lost
If you’re a school leader, SENCo, social worker or carer and you’re thinking, “Some of our young people will struggle this holiday,” you don’t have to hold that alone.
We’re here to think it through with you.
Gentle next steps
If you’d like to explore how Lexia’s mentors and tutors can support your young people before and after the holidays, you’re welcome to:
- Arrange a short, no-pressure conversation with us
- Talk through the specific children you’re worried about
- Co-create a plan that focuses on consistency, care and realistic next steps
Because what young people need this holiday is not just more “interventions”.
They need safe adults who stay, who prepare them for the hard bits, and who show up again in January with the same message:
“You still matter. I’m still here.”
