Latest Coronavirus information relevant for SEND families

At times of crisis, accurate information is vital. With so much Coronavirus information flying around, we want to ensure you can easily access the information you need to make the best decisions for your family

On this page, we have collated all the official Coronavirus information we know of relevance to families who have members with special educational needs and disabilities. We've included our own articles about Coronavirus and other articles from reliable sources. We will endeavour to keep this page updated as the days go by. You can help us by sending us any additional useful, official or informational articles you have seen, that are helpful for SEND families.

SEND briefing from DfE

Friday 26th February: COVID "recovery" briefing for SEND stakeholders from DfE can be downloaded here

Testing in specialist settings

This information was sent out by the Department for Education w/e 26 February 2021:

"We have worked hard to give specialist settings additional flexibility on testing as attendance increases. For specialist settings this means: · On-site testing can continue in larger numbers in specialist settings if that is the most appropriate way of testing being accessed. We have built into funding that, should they choose to, SEND settings can maintain a full-scale on-site ATS (Asymptomatic Testing) at their school. If students are unable to test on-site but could be tested at home by a suitably competent adult, settings can provide home testing kits to them from the outset (without the pupil being tested at an ATS first), where this is appropriate for the pupil/student. We are continuing to work proactively on other approaches to testing for children and young people who are unable to tolerate a throat or nasal swab.

Department for Education

This information will be updated here in our course.

SNJ posts about Coronavirus

• SNJ’s 10-point “Grab & Go” version of the DfE’s Back-to-School Guidance for SEND learners
• Ombudsman responds to our #ProvisionDenied report with news of a COVID team
• Provision denied: Children with SEND have had their needs and education “pushed to one side, for the convenience of the majority.”
• SEND researchers identify key lessons for teaching children with special education needs in lockdown
• Ofsted: Two-thirds of disabled children “disengaged” from remote learning, while less than half of schools offer extra help
• How the National Tutoring Programme can be a powerful tool to help SEND pupils during lockdown
• How the National Tutoring Programme can be a powerful tool to help SEND pupils during lockdown
• Lockdown 3: What does it mean for the rights of children with SEND?
• More parents seeking children’s mental health support in pandemic, with growing pessimism over support delays
• How is Ofsted supporting & evaluating SEND provision during the pandemic?
• We need more awareness that pandemic life is far from an equal experience
• Ofsted: Disabled children “seriously affected in both care and education” during pandemic
• Coronavirus Lockdown 2.0: What does it mean for disabled children?
• Coronavirus guidance: What mainstream settings should do to ensure the inclusion of disabled children
• Sept 11: Introducing Oak National Academy’s new online specialist curriculum
• Ofsted/CQC SEND inspectors dropping by soon, but in learning mode
• The scandal of the children with complex needs told they’re not welcome back at school
• Left stranded: the impact of coronavirus on autistic people and families in the UK
• Special school heads think 14% of their children won’t be back
• Explaining the inexplicable: why the government won the SEND coronavirus judicial review (round one)
• SNJ in Conversation: Oak Academy’s improving SEND offer
• Young people with SEND left in limbo with no place for September
• July 27 Coronavirus and SEND Education: 75% of schools ignored Government risk assessment guidance during the lockdown
• SEND risk assessments and preparing for a return to school (or not)
• Shots fired! Secretary of State in legal challenge over SEND Coronavirus changes
• June 1st SNJ In Conversation: What legal rights do disabled children
have left under the Coronavirus Act?
• Coronavirus: Managing risk to get our special school ready for reintegration
• May 7 2020: It is a mistake to assume all vulnerable children are 'at risk of harm'
• Coronavirus: EHCP laws temporarily "relaxed" as LAs told to just do their best
• Care in a time of coronavirus (ii): Using health direct payments to pay family members for care
• Coronavirus Lockdown with kids: Setting a steady pace for home learning
• Distance education resources for children and young people with SEND
• Coronavirus and SEND law: Part 4 What does my child’s EHCP still provide?
• Coronavirus: School, attendance and exclusions. Your legal questions answered, part 3
• Coronavirus and SEND law: Your Questions Answered (part two – Timescales)
• Coronavirus and SEND law: Your questions answered (part one - Tribunals) Hayley Mason
• Care in a time of Coronavirus: Using direct payments to pay family members for care -Steve Broach
• Steve Broach, Public Law Barrister on the Coronavirus Bill’s implications for disabled children
• The curious decision to keep disabled children at school despite the Coronavirus crisis -Tania Tirraoro
• Calming Coronavirus anxiety in children (and everyone else)- Angela Kelly
• Coronavirus: EHCP laws temporarily "relaxed" as LAs told to just do their best
• Care in a time of coronavirus (ii): Using health direct payments to pay family members for care
• Coronavirus Lockdown with kids: Setting a steady pace for home learning
• Distance education resources for children and young people with SEND
• Coronavirus and SEND law: Part 4 What does my child’s EHCP still provide?
• Coronavirus: School, attendance and exclusions. Your legal questions answered, part 3
• Coronavirus and SEND law: Your Questions Answered (part two – Timescales)
• Coronavirus and SEND law: Your questions answered (part one - Tribunals) Hayley Mason
• Care in a time of Coronavirus: Using direct payments to pay family members for care -Steve Broach
• Steve Broach, Public Law Barrister on the Coronavirus Bill’s implications for disabled children
• The curious decision to keep disabled children at school despite the Coronavirus crisis -Tania Tirraoro
• Calming Coronavirus anxiety in children (and everyone else)- Angela Kelly

Department for Education helpline

The Department for Education (DfE) helpline (see below) offers guidance for anyone with education-related questions on coronavirus – from early years up to universities, plus parents. Tel: 0800 046 8687 (open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm), DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk 

Trustworthy Coronavirus information articles from other sources

• Include Me Too COVID- 19 Information & Resources hospital passport - WHIS
• Recording/slides now available for recent webinar on implications of #CoronavirusAct on education, social care & #MentalHealth Act. With Fenella Morris QC, Victoria Butler-Cole QC & @SteveBroach who've worked closely on the legislation. ow.ly/KcZS50z6muo
• IPSEA update on COVID-19, school closures and SEN provision
• Coronavirus impact on EHC plans and children with special educational needs - Coram
• Coronavirus and UK schools closures: Support and advice for schools and parents/carers (British Psychological Society)
• The Coronavirus Bill, social care & SEN | Luke Clements
• COVID-19 Information For Parents And Carers - WellChild
• 39 Essex Chambers | The Coronavirus Bill – Schedule 11 | 39 Essex Chambers | Barristers' Chambers
• Benefits and Coronavirus - Turn2us
• Homemade hand sanitiser recipes that could help protect against coronavirus, from Bioscientists at Royal Holloway University of London

Commons Education Committee COVID19 Inquiry

The Commons Education Select Committee has launched an inquiry into how the #Coronavirusoutbreak is affecting the education sector & children’s social care. It'll scrutinise how the Department for Education is dealing with the situation. More here: