Council for Disabled children Covid-19 support and Guidance

• Government guidance: an up-to-date list of advice and guidance on coronavirus. Read here.

Government guidance 

• Department for Education (DfE) Coronavirus Helpline. The DfE have set up a helpline offering guidance for anyone with education related questions. The number is 0800 046 8687, and lines are open 8am-6pm (Monday – Friday), and 10am – 4pm (Saturday and Sunday).

Council for Disabled Children - Frequently Asked Questions

• FAQ - SEND support during the Coronavirus pandemic. Download our series of weekly CDC FAQs, Read here.
• Coronavirus Spotlight: five lessons learnt so far. Read here.
• Coronavirus Spotlight: What does the Coronavirus Act 2020 mean for children and young people with SEND. Read here.
• Coronavirus Spotlight: Vulnerable Children. Read here.
• Coronavirus Spotlight: SEND Local Support. Read here.

• Royal College of Occupational Therapists - Top tips for preparing your child to return to school.

The Royal College of Occupational Therapists have produced this top tips guide to help parent carers prepare their children for returning to school. Read here.

• WellChild - WellChild are offering a Direct Response Service to try and help families get the things they need including access to food delivery service and prescription collections. Read here.
• Contact - Coronavirus: Information for families with disabled children.

A list of information for families with disabled children. Information includes: children with health needs; coping at home; coronavirus, welfare benefits and money. Read here.

• Disabled Children's Partnership (DCP) - A wealth of resources for families, covering a range of information, activities and condition specific advice. Read here.
•  Family Fund - A collection of links from organisations that provide services, advice and other help to families raising disabled or seriously ill children including information on vaccines. Read here.
• Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF) - Specific resources for the families of children, young people and adults with severe learning disabilities who display behaviours that challenge. Read here.

• Council for Disabled Children - Guidance and Advice on Coronavirus: Learning Disability and Autism Focus.

This document brings together different advice from GOV.UK and the NHS. This document focuses on supporting children and young people with autism and a learning disability. Read here.

• Council for Disabled Children - Guidance and Advice on Coronavirus: Learning Disability and Autism Focus.

This document brings together different advice from GOV.UK and the NHS. This document focuses on supporting children and young people with autism and a learning disability. Read here.

• Rehab Clinic Group - Student guide to managing mental health during COVID-19. Read here.
• Limb Power - Limb Power have created online adaptive fitness sessions for children and young people with limb difference. You can watch the home workouts on Tuesday and Thursday mornings on Limb Power's Youtube channel. Watch here.
• Internet Matters - Internet Matters have launched a new website to help to support parents, carers, and young people with additional learning needs to stay safe online. They have created this hub to offer tailored advice on how to connect safely online across a range of social platforms. Read here.

• Department for Education: home learning resources for children and young people with SEND. Read here.
• BBC Bitesize: learning from home. Daily lessons includin videos, quizzes and practice activities for year groups 1-9. View here.
• BBC - Parents Toolkit: SEND. SEND resources, activities and support to help you and your family during lockdown. Read here.
• Engage Education - Top Tips for Supporting SEND Pupils when Remote Teaching. Read here.
• My Tutor - Homeschooling during COVID-19: How One Family is Doing It. Read here.

This guide contains plenty of helpful information such as:

- Useful tips and ideas for parents homeschooling their children during the COVID-19 lockdown.

- Written by Emma Bradley, a qualified teacher and mum of three, the blog is full of details from her personal experience – a great source of inspiration for other parents.

- Advice on a range of topics; including how to structure the day, how to give children a choice in what they do, how to give teens a sense of purpose, and how to make learning fun.

• Point - a list of useful educational, creative and activity resources that will be helpful for families to access from home. Read here.
• University College London- Homeschooling children with SEND: a series of information resources to help parents, carers and families support pupils with SEND at home during the period of school closures. Read here.
• Topmarks- educational activities and resources for all school subjects and key stages. Read here.  
• Save the Children: webpage includes family learning activities and guidance on how to talk to children about coronavirus. Read here.

• Department for Education - updated guidance on Aerosol Generated Procedures. Read here.
• Royal College of Nursing (RCN) clinical guidance for managing coronavirus for those across the health and social care workforce. Read here.
• Royal College of Paediatrics and Child’s Health (RCPCH)

- Guidance for clinicians about the shielding of clinically vulnerable children and young people. Read here.

- Guidance for health professionals working in paediatrics and child health. Read here.

- PIMS: the COVID-19 linked syndrome affecting children - information for families. Read here.

• Health Education England information for Allied Health Professionals during the coronavirus outbreak. Read here.
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) COVID-19 advice hub. Read here.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) COVID-19 advice. Read here.
• Royal College of Psychiatrists, guidance for psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals working in mental health settings. Read here.
• Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT): information, resources and FAQs from the RCOT to support occupational therapists throughout the evolving COVID-19 emergency. Read here.
• Chartered Society of Physiotherapists- advice for physiotherapists on taking care of mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak. Read here.
• NHS England and NHS Improvement- Coronavirus FAQs document for the Learning Disability and Autism Programme. Read here.
• NHS England letter from Claire Murdoch, National Mental Health Director to Mental health trusts and CCG/STP mental health leaders around the Immediate establishment of 24/7 urgent NHS mental health telephone support, advice and triage. Published 3rd April 2020
• NHS England update in regards to Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism: responding to COVID-19, 15th March 2020: first of a series of updates to share information with chief executives of mental health trusts and other mental health service providers, including the independent and third sectors, as well as regional teams and local colleagues. Read here.
• NHS England update in regards to Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism: responding to COVID-19, 25th March 2020: second update. Read here.
• NHS England- Managing capacity and demand within inpatient and community mental health, learning disabilities and autism services for all ages. Published 25th March 2020. Read here.
• NHS England guidance for providers of community services and how they can release capacity to support COVID-19 preparedness and response, inc. prioritization of services for SEND inc. therapies, community paediatrics and special school nursing- Published 20th March 2020. Read here.
• NHS England. Workforce guidance for mental health, learning disabilities and autism, and specialised commissioning services during the coronavirus pandemic. Published 8th April 2020
• NHS England. Legal guidance for mental health, learning disability and autism, and specialised commissioning services supporting people of all ages during the coronavirus pandemic, Published 30th March 2020
• NHS England letter: supporting allied health professionals and allied health professional support workers during the COVID-19 epidemic in the UK, 19th March. Read here.
• NHS Clinical guide for the management of remote consultations and remote working in secondary care during the coronavirus pandemic, 27th March. Read here.

• Social Work England & the Principal Social Worker Network

​- Best practice guide for risk assessment and prioritising children and families’ needs (PDF)

- Best practice guide for video/virtual calls/conferencing and virtual home visits (PDF)

- Best practice guide for ethical response to the COVID-19 pandemic (PDF)

• Care Act easements: guidance for local authorities.

This guidance sets out how Local Authorities can use the new Care Act easements, created under the Coronavirus Act 2020, to ensure the best possible care for people in our society during this exceptional period. Read here.

• 39 Essex Chambers - Coronavirus Act 2020: Social care and SEND guidance note. Read here.
• Carers UK - Coronavirus guidance for carers. Read here.
• Social Work England- Information and advice for social workers, students, employers and course providers. Read here.
• Local Government Association, ADASS and CPA. Social care provider resilience during covid-19: guidance for commissioners. Read here.
• Mental Capacity Law and Policy- resources relating to coronavirus and the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Read here.
• Community Care- Deprivation of liberty: emergency guidance due to help social workers deal with coronavirus impact. Read here.

• National Education Union- Coronavirus advice. Read here.
• National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers- Information and advice for members. Read here.
• Schools Wellbeing Partnership - school return toolkit to help primary schools to work through the key considerations to support mental health and wellbeing as all pupils begin to return to school full time. View here.
• E-bug - e-Bug is a free educational resource for classroom and home use and makes learning about micro-organisms, the spread, prevention and treatment of infection fun and accessible for all teachers and students. They have produced an e-book about classroom bubbles, series of lesson plans, posters and more. Read here.
• Be Ready- will be providing a free, online, interactive platform for secondary school teachers and pupils that will now feature curriculum content. To request a free platform sign up here. School leaders can have a look at the platform here.
• Mentally Healthy Schools- A variety of resources that can be used to ensure pupil mental health and wellbeing is being maintained. Read here.