created by SR published on 21 April 2020

In this section you will find information and links to keep you updated about the latest local and national news related to SEND during the Covid-19 outbreak. 

Last updated: 16th September 2020 

Local Updates

Phase Transfer Information

These presentation slides outline the phase transfer process for children and young people with SEND:

 

Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening (June 2020)

Below you will find a set of slides from the DfE on key messages and advice to education settings on supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider re-opening.

The content includes:

  • Advice about transitioning back to specialist settings;
  • Key messages about risk assessments;
  • Supporting children and young people who remain at home full-time, or part-time;
  • Advice about reducing the risk of infection;
  • The use of PPE;
  • Temporary changes to SEND legislation;
  • Links to key documents.

Click here to download a copy of the slides: DfE Briefing Slides (June 2020)

 

Transition and Re-integration Plan for Vulnerable Pupils

Below you will find a Transition and Re-integration Plan for Vulnerable Pupils along with supporting guidance to prepare and support children and young people to return to school.

The plan is designed to help the setting, child/young person and family to identify the support they need, address any barriers or concerns they may have and agree a transition with appropriate support that can be put in place to enable the child/young person to return to school. The supporting guidance has helpful prompts to support the completion of each section of the plan.

Click on the links below to download a copy:

 

Risk Assessment for Children and Young People with an Education, Health and Care Plan

The DfE Guidance was first published on 19th April asking schools to complete risk assessments for EHCP children and young people who are out of school at present.  This was updated on 7th May 2020.

Barnet originally asked schools to RAG rate pupils, therefore, it would be a case of updating the risk assessments or RAG rating any risk assessments that you have previously completed. 

This guidance asks you to take into account 5 key points:

1 The potential health risk to the individual from Covid-19, bearing in mind any underlying health conditions

2. The risk to the individual if some or all elements of their EHCP cannot be delivered at all, and the risk if they cannot be delivered in the normal manner or in the usual setting

3.The ability of the individual’s parents or home to ensure their health and care needs can be met safely

4. The potential impact to the individuals wellbeing as a result of the changes to routine or the way in which provision is delivered

5. Any out of school or college risk or vulnerability

Here you will find an EHCP Risk Assessment template to support you: EHCP Risk Assessment template

You will also find the link to the DfE Risk Assessment guidance in the section below. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions around SEND and Covid-19

This document gives a summary of FAQs around SEND and Covid-19. It will be updated regularly and the date will appear in the footer section.  

It is intended for support and should always be read alongside Government advice. If you have additional questions you think would be helpful to include please do send them to [email protected] 

Click on the links below to download the documents. 

Frequently Asked Questions Edition 1: FAQs around SEND and Covid-19

Frequently Asked Questions Edition 2: FAQs around SEND for wider opening of schools

                                                             

Holding Virtual SEND Meetings

We have created some helpful suggestions to support you with holding your SEND meetings virtually. Click here to download the document: What to consider when holding a Virtual Meeting

Information about Zoom Video Conferencing

Zoom have created some helpful information on what you need to know to keep your video meetings safe and secure: Zoom Information 

You can also visit National Online Safety to dowload their free guide: 'What parents need to know about Zoom'

Click here to visit the website: https://nationalonlinesafety.com/guides/zoom

 

Latest DfE Government Guidance for SEND

Guidance for schools: coronavirus (COVID-19)

Published 17 June 2020

Last updated 7 September 2020

What school leaders, teachers and support staff need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

When you visit this page, you will also find links to Guidance for Parents and Carers, and other providers: Guidance for Coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

Letter from Minister Ford to children and young people with SEND, their families and carers, and those who work to support them

Published 2nd September 2020

A letter from Minister Vicky Ford about support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) on thier return to school.

It provides advice and guidance on a number of areas including behaviour, risk assessments, face coverings, specialist and visiting practitioners, mental health and wellbeing, and hospital schools, as well as links to some of the support available.

Letter from Vicky Ford to SEND Sector dated 2nd September 2020

 

Guidance for full opening: schools

Published 2 July 2020

This guidance is intended to support schools, both mainstream and alternative provision, to prepare for this. It applies to primary, secondary (including sixth forms), infant, junior, middle, upper, school-based nurseries and boarding schools. Independent schools are expected to follow the control measures set out in this document in the same way as state-funded schools. The guidance also covers expectations for children with special educational needs and disability (SEND), including those with education, health and care plans, in mainstream schools.

Separate guidance is available for early years, further education colleges and for special schools.

Click here to see the full guidance: Guidance for full opening

 

Open Letter from the Minister for Children & Families about the Wider Opening of Schools, Colleges and Other Educational Settings from 1st June

Published 30th May 2020

On Saturday 30th May, Vicky Ford MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, published an Open Letter to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, their parents/carers and families, and others who support them, about the wider opening of schools, colleges and other educational settings from 1st June 2020.

Click here to read this: Open Letter dated 30th May 2020

 

Extension of Temporary Changes to the Law for those Children & Young People with Education, Health and Care Plans

Updated 29th May 2020

On Friday 29th May, the Secretary of State issued a notice to extend the temporary changes to the law on what provision has to be made currently for those with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans.

Modification of section 42 Children and Families Act 2014

The Secretary of State for Education by this notice modifies section 42 (duty to secure special educational provision and health care provision in accordance with an education, health and care plan) of the Children and Families Act 2014 (the 2014 Act) in the manner described in the table in paragraph 5 of Schedule 17 to the Coronavirus Act 2020, so that any duty imposed on a person by that section is to be treated as discharged if the person has used reasonable endeavours to discharge the duty during the period specified in this notice.

The temporary changes to the law have been in force since 1st May and are now extended to 30th June. Once the notice expires, the Secretary of State can issue a further notice for a period of up to a month if it would be appropriate and proportionate to do so in the context of coronavirus. 

Click here to read the guidance: Temporary Legislation Guidance (29/05/20)

 

 

Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening 

Updated 26 May 2020

Latest guidance on supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening.

Click here to read the full updated guidance: DfE Guidance 26 May 2020 

 

Education, health and care needs assessments and plans: guidance on temporary legislative changes relating to coronavirus (COVID-19)

Published 30 April 2020

Purpose of the Guidance (this information has been taken from the DfE website)

Some aspects of the law on education, health and care (EHC) needs assessments and plans are changing temporarily to give local authorities, health commissioning bodies1, education settings and other bodies who contribute to these processes more flexibility in responding to the demands placed on them by coronavirus (COVID-19).

These changes are being brought about by:

a) A notice from the Secretary of State for Education issued under the Coronavirus Act 2020 to modify section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014 (duty to secure special educational provision and health care provision in accordance with EHC plan). The duty on local authorities or health commissioning bodies to secure or arrange the provision is temporarily modified to a duty to use ‘reasonable endeavours’ to do so.

b) The Special Educational Needs and Disability (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (the ‘Amendment Regulations’). This instrument temporarily amends 4 sets of Regulations that specify timescales that apply to local authorities, health commissioning bodies and others: principally for various processes relating to EHCneeds assessments and plans. Where it is not reasonably practicable or is impractical to meet that time limit for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19), the specific time limit (such as to issue a plan to someone eligible for one within 20 weeks of the initial request) in the regulations being amended will not apply. Instead, the local authority or other body to whom that time limit applies will have to complete the process as soon as reasonably practicable or in line with any other timing requirement in any of the regulations being amended (see Annex A: details of the amendments to the existing Regulations.

This non-statutory guidance provides a summary of these legislative changes and sets out the key implications for all those who play a part in the processes relating to EHC needs assessments and plans.

For full details, please visit the following website link: DfE Guidance 

 

Risk Assessment

Conducting a SEND risk assessment during the coronavirus outbreak

Published 19 April 2020 
Last updated 7 May 2020 

Guidance for special schools, specialist colleges, local authorities and any other settings managing children and young people with complex special educational needs and disability (SEND).

To view this click the following link: SEND Risk Assessment Guidance

 

Open letter to children & young people with SEND

Published 24th March 2020

An open letter to children and young people with SEND, their families and those who support them from Vicky Ford, PUSS for Children and Families.

Click here to read the letter: Open Letter

 

Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Published 22nd March 2020 (updated 19 April 2020)

The Government has released new guidance for supporting vulnerable children and young people. This includes information on those who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). 

Click here to visit the website: Guidance on vulnerable children and young people   

 

Coronavirus (Covid-19): list of online education resources for home education

Published 7th April 2020

The Department for Education recently published guidance to support home learning: ‘Coronavirus (Covid-19): list of online education resources for home education’.

This includes a helpful section for Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND):

  • SEND: apps and games
  • SEND: resources for teachers

These websites have been identified by some of the country’s leading educational experts and offer a wide range of support and resources for pupils of all ages.’ (DfE, 7 April 2020)

You can find this information on the following link: DfE Guidance (April 2020)

 

nasen - Covid-19: Important Information and FAQs

nasen have information available in response to questions about supporting children & young people with SEND during the current situation. You can visit their website for further details: Covid-19: Important Information and FAQs

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