The Kent newsletter for parents of children with special educational needs or disabilities
Going back to school in March will be an exciting time for many children who will be keen to get back to see their friends, learn new things and just enjoy school life.
But the coronavirus pandemic and the risks it brings continues to be a big concern, and some parents and children may have questions or be worried about some of the new changes – from getting to and from school by taxi or minibus to dealing with anxieties about going back.
In this ‘back to school’ special edition of the SEND parent newsletter, we have information, tips and guidance to help you prepare for your child’s return and to feel confident and supported about going to school.
Mark Walker
Interim Director, Special Educational Needs and Disabled Children and Young People
All students to return to school
From 8 March, school attendance is mandatory for all children and young people, unless they receive a positive test result, have to self-isolate or are clinically extremely vulnerable.
We advise that you speak with your child before returning to school to explain how they can be safe. For information you can:
- download the government's easy read guide
- download the government's parent guide
- visit our return to school page for helpful advice
Those who are aged 16 to 19 (or 19 to 25 with an educational health and care plan) should attend the majority of their planned hours at school or college.
If your child is unable to attend school or college, your child's education setting will make appropriate arrangements for you to be able to continue your education at home. They will also notify your child's social worker (if they have one) and agree with the social worker the best way to maintain contact and offer support to your child. Alongside this, they will also put in place support to check that your child can access education at home, and to check on their wellbeing.
If you have any concerns about your child attending school or college, we ask that you contact them directly.
Support from Provision Evaluation Officers
The Provision Evaluation Officer (PEO) team works with parents and schools where children or young people with SEND are struggling with the transition back to school.
They already work closely with schools and colleges to support and advise as well as monitor the provision for pupils and students with SEND, whether they have Education, Health and Care Plans or are receiving SEN Support with or without High Needs Funding.
PEOs are all qualified teachers with considerable experience working with children and young people with SEND.
There is at least one PEO for every district in Kent. The team also includes a PEO for further education and for independent schools for pupils with an EHCP.
If you would like to speak to the PEO for the district that your child’s school is in please email Tania Lawrence tania.lawrence@kent.gov.uk who will pass on your contact details to the relevant PEO.
Support for clinically extremely vulnerable children
The government advice for those who are clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) is to continue to go outside for exercise, but to avoid busy areas to minimise the chance of coming into close contact with others. This exercise should be limited to once per day and you should not travel outside your area. Otherwise, please stay at home as much as possible.
Doctors have been reviewing all those who were initially identified as CEV to confirm whether they are still thought to be at highest risk. Your GP should have been in contact with you to discuss this, please follow the guidance provided by them.
Children who live with someone who is CEV should still attend school or college. Information for parents is available from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Wearing a face covering at school or college
Nurseries and primary schools
Secondary schools and colleges
- travelling to and from school or college
- moving around the building
- in classrooms, corridors and communal areas where social distancing cannot be easily maintained.
- If social distancing can be maintained in classrooms, face coverings do not need to be worn.
- cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical impairment or disability, illness or mental health difficulties
- are someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expression to communicate.
Testing in schools
Nurseries and primary schools
Pupils who attend nurseries and primary schools do not need to be regularly tested. Staff will take part in asymptomatic testing to help reduce the transmission and keep everyone safe.
Secondary schools and colleges
All children and young people attending secondary schools and colleges will be offered testing. Testing is voluntary, but the government strongly encourages that your child is tested, to help to manage the virus transmission.
On site testing
If consent has been given, pupils will be asked to take 3 tests at school, between 3 and 5 days apart. After these tests pupils will be provided with home test kits for regular testing.
Your child can return to school following their first negative test result.
Your child will not be stopped from returning to school or college if they choose to not be tested, but the government strongly encourages that your child is tested. On site school testing will remain for anyone who is unable to test at home.
Home testing
Pupils will be asked to test themselves twice a week at home and report the results to the NHS Test and Trace and their school or college.
Pupils under the age of 18 should have adult supervision while taking these tests.
For more information about how testing will be carried out you can visit the government website.
How your child can help
To help to minimise the transmission of the virus your child should:
- wash their hands for at least 20 seconds when they arrive, return from break, change rooms and both before and after eating
- wear a face covering, unless exempt
- use the “catch it, bin it, kill it” approach when using a tissue
- stay within specified bubbles
- maintain social distancing
- self isolate if they develop one or more of the symptoms or tested positive
- self isolate for 10 days from the day of contact with an individual who tested positive.
Mencap offer a large amount of online easy read guides dealing with how to:
- cope with bereavement due to coronavirus
- easy read guide explaining national lockdown
- helping someone in hospital with coronavirus.
- visiting a hospital if you have coronavirus (easy read)
- what happens if someone I know has coronavirus and needs to go to hospital (easy read)
How schools and colleges are helping
To help to minimise the transmission of the virus your child's school or college should:
- stagger starting times for pupils to allow social distancing
- promote the “catch it, bin it, kill it” approach
- make sure that windows are open where possible
- increase cleaning across all surfaces
- reiterate the importance of social distancing
- inform your child on how to wear a mask appropriately.
Self isolation
When your child should self isolate
You should not send your child to school or college if they:
- have symptoms or live in a household with someone who has symptoms
- have tested positive themselves, even if they do not have symptoms
- live in a household with someone who has tested positive, even if that person does not have symptoms
- are a close contact of someone who has coronavirus (COVID-19)
- are confirmed as clinically extremely vulnerable.
If you or someone in your household is clinically extremely vulnerable, your child should still attend school or college.
Self isolation and your family
If your child is identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) and is asked to self isolate, you do not need to self isolate unless your child develops symptoms. This also applies to other members of your household (including any other children in the same school or college).
If your child has been a close contact of someone who has tested positive, and then develops symptoms but has a negative test result, they will still need to self isolate for the full 10 days from the day after contact with the person who tested positive.
Educating at home due to self isolation
Your child's school or college will provide support with remote education and pastoral support. They should also have in place procedures to check that your child is able to access remote education support, to support them to access it (as far as possible) and to regularly check if they are doing so.
If we provide a taxi, minibus or coach to get your child to school, these will be running as usual. But it will feel different at first for your child and we are counting on your support to help them understand the new government safety measures and rules that will be in place, and be as prepared as possible.
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Vehicles will be deep cleaned every day, and surfaces that people are likely to touch will be regularly disinfected throughout the day.
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Windows will be kept open to keep air moving through the vehicle.
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Drivers (and other staff on board to assist passengers) will either be behind a screen or wearing a face covering.
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Seating has been reorganised to maintain social distancing on coaches and children using taxis or minibuses will usually sit in the same seat on all their journeys.
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We will try to limit the number of passengers in taxis and, where possible, will not share taxis between different schools.
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No standing or queuing allowed in the aisles on coaches.
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Eating and drinking on board any vehicle will not be allowed.
Face coverings
It is not a legal requirement for face coverings to be worn on taxis, minibuses and coaches but if your child is able and willing to wear one, we would encourage them to do so to protect all passengers and staff on board.
Mental health support
We need to be honest with children and young people about the situation, but also be sensitive not to worry them too much and be aware that children and young people of different ages may need different support.
Our wellbeing site was created earlier this year by health, public sector, charity and voluntary organisations across Kent and Medway to signpost residents to information and help during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Visit our looking after your mental health wellbeing for children and young people page.
Parents and Carers Together
“Kent Pact is pleased with the current relationships with our strategic partners at KCC. While not all service users may have seen any changes yet, we can assure you it is happening cohesively at a strategic level and Kent Pact are excited for the future.
We have worked closely with Kent’s Local Offer Team and the updates to Kent’s Local Offer website speak for themselves.”
Vicky Edwards, Coordinator.
Support and advice from IASK
Information Advice and Support Kent offer free, confidential, information, advice and support to children, young people, and their parents/carers. We can answer any queries you have about education, health, or social care as it relates to a child or young person’s special educational needs.
Currently we are offering a range of workshops for parents, young people, and professionals. The workshops are delivered via MS Teams so you can attend from the comfort of your home and you don’t have to see anyone if you prefer to turn off your camera. The topics covered are SEN Support in Mainstream Schools and Colleges; SEN Support in the Early Years and Transition to Reception; Review Meetings; Post 16 Decision Making and Mental Capacity; Options for Post 16 Transition.
We have a range of information, links to other helpful websites and information, leaflets and videos which explain about legal processes and procedures relating to special educational needs.
To find out more please visit our website.
If you cannot access our website please contact our helpline who would be happy to help you book onto a workshop, as well as answering any questions you have . You can contact IASK by:
- phone: 03000 41 3000
- email: iask@kent.gov.uk.
- visit: IASK website.
Tell us your views about our local offer website
As part of our pledge to work more collaboratively with parents and carers, we’d like to hear your views about our website!
Over the past couple of months, we have been making some improvements to the local offer website and we would like to hear from you. Let us know what you think about our website, what’s working for you and how we could improve more.
