Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus

(asked on 1st September 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment the Government has made of the (a) ability and (b) safety of children with SEND returning to school as covid-19 restrictions are eased.


Answered by
Vicky Ford Portrait
Vicky Ford
This question was answered on 9th September 2020

Supporting all children and young people and keeping them safe is the highest priority for the government, especially at this time. The decision to ask pupils to return to school has not been taken lightly, and it is based on the latest available evidence. Our NHS Test and Trace system is up and running, and we are clear about the measures that need to be in place to create safer environments within education settings. This enables children to return to their educational setting so that they can receive high-quality teaching and specialist professional care.

Additionally, the risk to children and young people themselves of becoming severely ill from COVID-19 is very low and there are negative impacts of being out of school or college. Returning to normal educational routines as quickly as possible will be critical for children and young people’s education and wellbeing, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities. Most pupils and students will be able to return to their setting. However, some pupils and students who are no longer required to shield but who generally remain under the care of a specialist health professional may need to discuss their care with their health professional. More advice is available from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health here:
https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/covid-19-shielding-guidance-children-young-people#children-who-should-be-advised-to-shield.

On 2 July, the government published detailed plans for schools and colleges that set out what is needed to plan for a full return of their pupils and students from the beginning of the autumn term, including for special schools and other specialist settings. This has been developed with medical experts from Public Health England and includes putting in place a ‘system of controls’ to minimise the risk of transmission in their settings.

The guidance for special schools and other specialist settings can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings.

The guidance for mainstream settings is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.

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