16 June 2020, 4pm
The national suspension on visitation in hospitals and other healthcare settings has now been lifted by the NHS and new guidance has been issued in its place.
The new guidance provides advice on how different healthcare settings may approach visitation, whilst always bearing in mind the safety of patients, communities, individuals and teams.
Latest open letter from Vicky Ford MP, Parliamentary undersecretary for state for children and families
Vicky Ford MP, Parliamentary undersecretary for state for children and families sent an open letter to all families of children with SEND about the wider opening of schools, colleges and other educational settings.
Read the full letter from Vicky Ford (PDF 326kb), or read our overview:
Government guidance overview
- children and young people with SEND in mainstream and alternative provision settings who have not been attending, and are in eligible year groups, should experience the same return to their school/college or contact with their teachers as their peers without SEND in the same year group.
- special schools, special post-16 institutions and hospital schools should work towards welcoming back as many children and young people as can be safely catered for in their setting based on risk assessments but not using their year group as a primary deciding factor.
- all educational settings will keep risk assessments up to date, to ensure they are able to offer places to pupils and students, whatever year group they are in, where circumstances have changed.
You can also keep up to date by regularly checking the gov.uk webpages and if you want to speak to an advisor from the DfE, please do call the DfE Coronavirus helpline.
0800 046 8687
8am-6pm (Monday – Friday) and 10am – 4pm (Saturday and Sunday).
An open letter to children and young people with SEND and their families, from Vicky Ford MP
Vicky Ford MP, Parliamentary undersecretary for state for children and families sent an open letter to all families of children with SEND.
Read the full letter from Vicky Ford (PDF 326kb), or read our overview:
- Government guidance about supporting vulnerable children.
- Government guidance with household isolation advice for children and young people who live in residential settings, and the staff that support them.
- The guidance on supporting vulnerable children states that local authorities, nurseries, schools, special schools, colleges and other training providers should do a risk assessment to establish the needs of each child or young person with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This assessment should include the views of the child or young person and their parents. This will inform the decision about whether they should continue in school or college, or whether their needs can be met at home safely.
- On 19 March, the 'Coronavirus Bill' was passed. The bill includes temporary emergency powers to modify legal requirements on local authorities in fulfilling their duties around EHCPs. This means that local authorities must do what they can to put in place the provision stated in EHCPs, but they won't be penalised for failing to do so. This will also mean that timescales around EHCP processes may be modified. This decision has not been taken lightly, and will be in place for as little time as possible. We hope that this will allow services to balance the needs of this vulnerable group and manage the demand on services in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Our Hertfordshire response
- We (Hertfordshire County Council) are not making any blanket changes to policy around modifying the timescales of the EHCP process. We will only do so with parental consent, and on a case by case basis.
- We have asked special school leaders to risk assess each of their pupils and let us know as soon as they can, who they have identified as needing provision at school, and who can be supported at home. This includes pupils who are children to key workers, and pupils who have been identified as being vulnerable.
- Children's services will work with special schools to help them develop education support for their children and families, who are both attending school and those at home. This include how families will access specialist advisory teachers.
For any children unable to go to school at this time, special schools are working with their staff to provide:
- personalised on-line/ virtual learning programmes and daily contact with specialist advisory teachers.
- An educational psychology and advisory teacher helpline for parents and schools to get support and advice (Mon - Fri 10am - 4.30pm) - 01992 588 574
- Wrap around support for families e.g. through short breaks and social care where needed.
It's important to seek urgent medical care if your child needs it. There is a lot of pressure to stay at home right now, but if your child becomes unwell and you feel they need urgent medical care, don't delay in getting help. Use your judgement and don't let symptoms worsen before you choose to get help.
If you have serious concerns about your child's health, contact your GP or go to the paediatric emergency department if it is needed.
This message is relevant to all families, and especially for those who have a child/ children with complex medical needs.
Together for Short Lives, a UK children's palliative care charity, has put together a statement over their concerns that families may be unsure about when to get help for their children during this time when we are advised to stay at home. They advise that in most cases, children with complex and life-limiting conditions are not at additional risk from COVID-19, however they may be at higher risk if they do not receive help for treatable complications of their underlying condition.
Dr Hilary Cass OBE, Chair of Together for Short Lives said:
“We know that everyone is trying to do the right thing by staying at home during the coronavirus crisis. However, we are very worried parents caring for children with life-limiting conditions might be too frightened to seek urgent medical help.
I’m sending a very clear message to every family caring for these children. You know your child better than anyone else, and if you think your child is unwell or deteriorating you must seek medical help. Doctors will want to make sure that your child is treated before their condition worsens.
Whilst it’s vital that families seek help is their child becomes unwell, it’s important that people shouldn’t present at A&E with minor ailments."
NHS Healthcare Passport
Hospital admission for children as a result of coronavirus will be very rare but emergency admissions may still happen for a number of different reasons. You might find it useful to have a 'hospital passport' for your child or young person with SEND to help with any hospital admission. You can fill in hosptial passports with key information which will help healthcare professionals to understand the needs of your child quickly.
Download a healthcare passport here.
The government have updated their Coronavirus FAQs with some health advice around daily exercise for people with a disability or additional need. We've pulled out the advice below for you to see, or you can view GOV.uk’s full list of Coronavirus FAQs: what you can and can't do.
Can I exercise more than once a day if I need to due to a significant health condition?
You can leave your home for medical need. If you (or a person in your care) have a specific health condition that requires you to leave the home to maintain your health - including if that involves travel beyond your local area - then you can do so. This could, for example, include where individuals with learning disabilities or autism require specific exercise in an open space two or three times each day - ideally in line with a care plan agreed with a medical professional.
Even in such cases, in order to reduce the spread of infection and protect those exercising, travel outside of the home should be limited, as close to your local area as possible, and you should remain at least 2 metres apart from anyone who is not a member of your household or a carer, at all times.