A quick reference guide for parents and staff on Coronavirus Absence from School
If you are uncertain what to do if your child is displaying symptoms, you can consult this handy document.
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What to do if a pupil is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)
Guidance from the Department for Education on what to do if a child/young person shows symptoms of coronavirus has been released. See the PDF below:
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Leicester City Council: Q&A on Children Returning to School
As you may be aware, the Department for Education has set out their expectation that all children will be back in school for the Autumn term. The Leicester City Council has set out a series of questions and answers.
Questions included are:
Returning to school
When do schools go back?Should I be worried other schools in the area are not opening on the same date as my child’s school?How safe is it for my child to return to school?My child is very anxious about returning – what support is on offer
Attending school
Do I have to send my child back to school?If my child is unable to attend, how will their absence be recorded? Will my child continue to get free school meals / vouchersIs my child required to wear school uniform?Will breakfast clubs and after school provision continue?
Clinically extremelly vulnerable and shielding
My child is currently shielding, can they attend school?Should my child go to school if someone in the house is shielding?
Developing symptoms
My...
Transport to school and other places of education: autumn term 2020
In preparation of schools fully reopening in the Autumn, the government has issued guidance on transport to and from school. You can read the full guidance here.
Part A provides guidance for Local Authorities on managing the capacity and demand for public transport.Part B provides guidance about the provision of dedicated home to school/college transport in the autumn term.
Specific mentions of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Local authorities should take account of the particular needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and, where necessary, be informed by the views provided by the parents and school.The system of controls: protective measures
"Children with SEND: When deciding on the package of measures that is appropriate on transport for children and young people with special educational needs, local authorities will need to take account the particular needs of the children using the transport, and to be informed by the views of the parents and school.
Special schools tend to...
A joint ministerial letter to children and young people with SEND regarding the full return to educational settings in September 2020
Children & Families Minister Vicky Ford and Care Minister Helen Whately have written an open letter to children and young people with SEND, their parents, families and others who support them.
The letter explains the actions that need to be taken to ensure, where possible, all pupils return to their educational settings from September, and responds to some of the concerns and questions that have been raised.
Department for Education and Department of Health & Social Care Joint Ministerial LetterDownload
Key messages include:
The importance for those with special educational needs and disabilities to return to educational settings safely in September so that they can receive face-to-face education and supportReassures that the risk of contracting the virus in educational settings is low and outlines protective measures in place to reduce the risk even further, including the NHS Test and Trace systemMinisters expect a small number of absences from children and young people who remain under the specialist care of a health professional however, the...
£8.1m scheme to create hundreds of new SEND school places
Leicester City Council has announced that £8.1 million will be invested in scheme which will create hundreds of new school places and provisions for children with special educational needs.
The proposals include:
3 of the Leicester Special Schools would provide extra facilitiesDesignated Specialist Provision (DSP) and Specialist Units would be created at 10 further schools across the city. Total of 228 permanent new school places would be provided for children with extra needs.
Schools included are the Leicester Partnership School in Knighton (extra 40 places), Ellesmere College (extra 60-70 places) and Netherhall Special School (extra 30 places). They will all also receive various new or renovated facilities.
Some of the proposed DSPs are:
Sandfield Close Primary SchoolRushey Mead Primary SchoolKestrel Mead Primary SchoolWill Brook MeadFullhurst Community CollegeOrchard MeadMellor Primary SchoolBraunstone Primary School
Read more at the Leicester Mercury.
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Department for Education: Supporting Children and Young People with SEND
The Department for Education have released their guidance to schools and colleges on supporting children and young people with SEND during the reopening of education settings.
The key elements of the guidance is around updating risk assessments and how the phased return to education settings will be managed.
Particular care will be needed in planning for and supporting children and young people with EHC plans to return to their schools and colleges. In the spirit of coproduction, educational settings should contact parents and involve them in decisions about their child who has an EHC plan.Similarly, they should contact and involve young people over 16 who have EHC plans.Schools and colleges will need to ensure that they have the staffing needed to support children and young people at safe ratios. Local authorities will also need to reinstate safe home to school transport arrangements.
Differentiated Return to School
"We recognise that some children and young people with EHC plans will need careful preparation for...
Details on phased wider opening of schools, colleges and nurseries
The Department for Education has released their statements on how schools, colleges and nurseries can begin to prepare to open to more young people from 1st June. You can read the full press release here.
All of this depends on the infection rate staying low, and will be monitored daily by the government.
The age groups expected to attend school are:
Nursery ReceptionYear 1Year 6
The Government is also asking schools, colleges and sixth-form to offer some face to face support to year 10 and year 12 students in preparation of their exams next academic year.
There is guidance to the education sector that is available for you to read. Some of the changes include:
Reducing the size of classes and keeping children in small groups without mixing with othersStaggered break and lunchtimes, as well as drop offs and pick upsIncreasing the frequency of cleaning, reducing the use of shared items and utilising outdoor space
It's key for parents and carers to understand that there...
SYSTEM FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN ENGLAND ‘RIDDLED WITH INEQUALITIES’
Damning report by MPs finds many pupils miss out on support and end up being excluded from education.
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are being failed by a system “riddled with unexplained inequalities”, according to a damning parliamentary report.
The report says many of the 1.3 million pupils in England with SEND are not getting the support they need and end up being excluded from school, damaging their education, wellbeing and future life chances.
You can read more in the Guardian or TES.
What do you think about these findings?
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IPSEA Update on COVID-19, school closures and SEN provision
Please follow the link here for the full briefing from IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice). We understand that this is a very challenging time, and the uncertainty is impacting on families. The briefing covers the following questions that may help:
What are children and young people with SEN’s entitlements when schools are closed? What if I don’t want to send my child to school, for example because they have a weakened immune system? If my child has an EHC plan, doesn’t the LA have a legal duty to deliver that provision? Will residential schools close? If my child was out of school before the school closures were ordered, do I still have an entitlement to alternative education? How long are schools likely be closed? What about home to school transport? Do the LA still need to carry out EHC needs assessments? Will SEND Tribunal appeals continue? Will annual reviews...