COVID-19: children’s services, education and schools

We are working as fast as we can to update this page with useful information for you. Please keep checking back and follow @LGAchildren on Twitter for the latest relevant information.

Children's social care services

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In partnership with Social Work England, the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care, we are delighted to provide a platform to connect social workers offering their expertise to local employers.  

LGA – working with children's services providers during COVID-19: guidance to commissioners

GOV.UK – Tier 4 childcare guidance

The impact of COVID-19 on education and children's services

GOV.UK – coronavirus test kits for children's homes

GOV.UK – COVID-19 recovery plans: guidance for youth offending teams

GOV.UK – guidance for parents and carers of children attending out of school settings during the coronavirus outbreak

GOV.UK – social care plans from September 2020

GOV.UK – advice to parents and carers on keeping children safe from abuse and harm

GOV.UK – guidance for children's social care services

GOV.UK – Safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care

GOV.UK – reducing burdens on educational and care settings

GOV.UK – what parents and carers need to know about schools and other education settings during the coronavirus outbreak

ADCS – building a country that works for all children post COVID-19

Children's wellbeing and mental health

LGA – public mental health and wellbeing and COVID-19

GOV.UK – guidance on supporting children and young people's mental health and wellbeing

GOV.UK – Teaching about mental wellbeing

GOV.UK – stay alert and safe: social distancing guidance for young people

NHS.UK – advice for parents, guardians and carers on how to help and support a child or young person with mental ill health, suicidal thoughts or self-harming behaviours

Supporting vulnerable children

GOV.UK – guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable

GOV.UK – countering online child sexual exploitation and abuse during the coronavirus pandemic

Royal College of Paediatrics – COVID-19 shielding guidance for children and young people

Family Fund – The Family Fund will help low-income families with seriously ill or disabled children with the cost of equipment, goods or services - from washing machines and refrigerators to sensory and educational equipment that they might not otherwise be able to afford.

Barnardo's – See, Hear, Respond campaign for vulnerable children and families 

Learning Disability England – Keeping informed and in touch during Coronavirus

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation – Information and resources for families and carers

Council for Disabled Children – frequently asked questions on SEND support during the coronavirus pandemic

Anyone who is worried about a child or young person can talk to the NSPCC helpline team who offer free support and guidance (telephone 0808 800 5000, email help@nspcc.org.uk or the reporting page on the NSPCC’s website. 

For more information on protecting vulnerable children, please see the vulnerable people section of our hub.

Education, schools and early years

GOV.UK – national lockdown stay at home: childcare

GOV.UK – children of critical workers and vulnerable children who can access schools or education settings

GOV.UK – contingency framework: education and childcare settings

GOV.UK – Schools and childcare settings: return in January 2021

GOV.UK – coronavirus asymptomatic testing in schools and colleges

DfE – what to do if a pupil is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (pdf)

GOV.UK – early years and childcare: coronavirus (this collection covers all areas of early years and childcare in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the guidance below may also be found within this collection).

GOV.UK – education and childcare settings: new national restrictions from 5 November 2020

GOV.UK – guidance for full opening of schools

GOV.UK – guidance for full opening: special schools and other specialist settings

GOV.UK – Ofsted COVID-19 series

GOV.UK – face coverings in education 

GOV.UK – education plans from September 2020

GOV.UK – behaviour and discipline in schools

Remote education

Oak Academy support for remote learning

GOV.UK – remote education good practice 

GOV.UK – remote education temporary continuity direction: explanatory note

GOV.UK – remote education during coronavirus

Qualifications and funding

GOV.UK – nursery and early years sector: COVID-19 restrictions and consumer law advice

GOV.UK – use of free early education entitlements funding during coronavirus

GOV.UK – claiming exceptional costs associated with coronavirus

GOV.UK – cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020

Department for Education communications

DfE – COVID-19: Back to School Safely content (Autumn 2020)

PHE – back to school safely communications resources

School governance: coronavirus update

Department of Transport – schools and education messaging

Workforce

Wellbeing guide for staff working in schools and trusts: managing the wellbeing of staff during COVID-19 (pdf)

Oak Academy – Teacher Hub

LGA Workforce and HR support – education and young people

GOV.UK – order additional tests for schools and education providers

GOV.UK – early years initial teacher training requirements and supporting advice (pdf, May 2020)

GOV.UK – initial teacher training: criteria and supporting advice

GOV.UK – informing DfE of the death of a carer or colleague across children's services

GOV.UK – guidance for coronavirus testing for frontline workers who are self isolating

GOV.UK – induction for newly qualified teachers during the coronavirus outbreak

Mental Health Network – our frontline: support for frontline workers in education

Youth Work Support: advice, guidance and tools for youth workers during the COVID-19 pandemic