DS Risk Warning: Health; Coronavirus/Covid 19

Hello all,

Thanks for the feedback on the model risk assessment. We're improving on it and will reissue for next week. Any other comments most welcome.

Helpfully a number of you commented on the return to work after an illness content of the cover email. We agree, without testing it won't be possible to know what the illness has been and it is perfectly possible that returners may need to self isolate again if symptoms occur again, just in case. Hopefully both testing of those with it and those who may have had it will accelerate to aid the confidence around returning to a form of normal.

We heard yesterday that the Government hopes effort by all will see the worst behind us by the end of June. However, a later in the year return of the virus is in the planning. There is also work going on in terms of isolation fatigue. We don't seem to be doing well as a society in terms of not panic buying! Goodness knows how attitudes will pan out and potentially impact on your services. We'll keep a close eye.

Guidance for schools, colleges and local authorities on maintaining educational provision issued today as further guidance to schools and parents by the Government.

Closure of educational settings: information for parents and carers

​Underlying the national approach is:

• If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be
• If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them
• Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions
• Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same social distancing principles as adults
• Residential special schools, boarding schools and special settings continue to care for children wherever possible​.​

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They say if your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision

At DS we appreciate achieving that will be another thing and a huge challenge for some.

Parent/Carers are being advised that if your school is closed then please contact your local authority, who will seek to redirect you to a local school in your area that your child, or children, can attend.

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Critical workers

​The guidance says, 'many parents working in [critical] sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be'.

A list of critical sectors can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

Vulnerable children

Government guidance says, 'vulnerable children include children who are supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans.'

The government adds, 'we know that schools will also want to support other children facing social difficulties and we will support head teachers to do so.'

​DS advises that it will be necessary to look at this aspect very carefully as we suspect there's sure to be challenges as to why that pupil, not mine, (where confidentialities can't be shared) is allowed in. How you'll turn them away is recognised as a potential difficulty.​

​On top of this for those who do stay at home, as part of your ongoing safeguarding approach, there will be the aspect of an appropriate frequency of contact over the phone to hopefully achieve and record.​
There is no requirement for parents to take up the offer of a school place

The government says, 'this is an offer to parents and carers and there is no requirement for parents and carers to send their children to school if they do not need or wish to do so.'

​DS has spotted​ the guidance says, 'for vulnerable children, your child’s social worker will work with you to assess the best option for your child.'​ How that plays out will be intriguing. You'll also face the ongoing challenge​ of following up those you feel should e in and aren't!

Special schools

The government says, 'special schools, colleges and local authorities are advised to make case by case basis assessments of the health and safeguarding considerations of pupils and students on an education, health and care (EHC) plan. For some, they will be safer in an education provision. For others, they will be safer at home. We trust leaders and parents to make these decisions and will support them as required.'

'We want to keep the majority of day special schools and colleges open, including moving staff into these settings to avoid closure.'

'Residential special schools, boarding schools and special settings [should] continue to care for children wherever possible'.

​DS advises that although there are grand words on trust, etc, however, we know you are alive to and very aware that overall risk assessment, individual risk assessments and capturing your decision making on a rolling basis in case of later scrutiny will be essential. In fact, you might in effect, stand up elements of our 3Cs documentation, namely:

* where your 'Loggists' are now called on to keep a running record

* your communication plan is activated.

The guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers  

​All the very best with your work on all this. Let us know if we can help on any of those 'angles' that keep appearing?

Bill​