Coronavirus

• Your child should follow government guidelines which means they must not leave the house, except to go in the garden and they are not allowed to meet anyone from another household
• No other members of the household are required to isolate unless your child develops symptoms

If your child doesn't have symptoms, other siblings can still go to school. 

• The usual safety measures of social distancing and hand washing should be maintained.
• It's important the child completes the 14 day self-isolating period even if they are tested and get a negative result.
• If the child or anyone else in the household develops symptoms they will need to get tested and the whole household will then need to self-isolate.
• Information on self-isolation can be found here at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/nhs-test-and-trace-if-youve-been-in-contact-with-a-person-who-has-coronavirus/

Children and young people should continue with home learning as instructed by their school. This will enable them to keep up with their learning and interaction with teachers and school friends which will also help support their emotional wellbeing.

• Supporting the emotional wellbeing of children will be important as it might not be easy having to stay at home for 14 days and not see friends, particularly as schools have only just returned after such a long break. 
• Ideally parents will encourage children to talk about their feelings and remain calm and supportive at times when children may be displaying frustration, anger, or low mood due to their situation. 
• Useful information and support for children and young people's mental health and emotional wellbeing can be found at www.onyourmind.org.uk

If your child does not have symptoms of COVID-19 but has other cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose - they do not need to be tested and they or members of their household do not need to self-isolate.

Your child can attend school if fit to do so.

Please download the PDF poster at the bottom of this page for more details.

The government is asking schools to prepare for all pupils to return full-time from the start of the autumn term. Your school will be in contact with more details.

 The government guidance says that they would expect children to be going back to school in their uniform, however your school will be able to advise if they are making any changes or adaptations to the uniform policy for this year.

From the autumn term normal attendance rules will be operating and all children should be in school as attendance is mandatory. For any parent with concerns the school will be available to talk through any concerns.
If parents of pupils with significant risk factors are concerned, schools can discuss their concerns and provide reassurance of the measures they are putting in place to reduce the risk in school. Pupils of compulsory school age must be in school unless a statutory reason applies (for example, the pupil has been granted a leave of absence, is unable to attend because of sickness, is absent for a necessary religious observance etc).

All schools will be working on plans to ensure safe drop off and pick up during the school day. They will be in contact with you directly on this

 Where possible schools are being encouraged to provide these clubs again from the autumn. Your school will be in contact with you directly with any details on this. 

Schools will be closed for the summer holidays. A number of summer holiday activities are being provided across the county and we have produced a summer activities directory which you can download from this page.

Schools are working hard to ensure classes can open in the autumn. The government guidance currently advises against young people wearing face coverings at school.

 Your school will contact you with the details.

• Start to increase the number of times that you encourage your child to wash their hands and practise maintaining social distance.
• Look at how they could walk or cycle to school.
• Read you schools' joining instructions - most will not want parents and other adults on site and will have set out safe entry and exit points.
• Arrive at the time you are asked to attend and don't arrive early or linger later.
• Explain any changes in behaviour policies to your child. Social distancing is really important and although schools and pupils have missed each other, it's important that we keep each other safe.

All schools have the latest guidance from government and will follow that closely should there be a suspected case at the school.

The government has advised a number of people who were shielding can now go out more. There will be some exceptions but these are outlined in the GOV.UK: Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19.

 Yes. Current guidance states that anyone using public transport should wear a face covering. 

 Government guidance is pupils on dedicated school transport should wear a face covering if they are aged 11 and over. Children aged under 11 do not need to wear a face covering.

We are supporting schools as they encourage pupils to walk or cycle to school where possible. We will be working with primary schools to introduce the Bikeability Scheme which encourages confidence and knowledge of how to cycle safely. Your school will advise you of any measures directly.

 If you choose not to send your child to school on the transport arranged by Wiltshire Council, you will have to make your own arrangements. However, it is important that you follow government guidelines and do not gather at the school gates.

Yes. There may be some extenuating circumstances to this, but you will be notified as soon as possible should that be the case.

 We will endeavour to provide the usual Passenger Assistant, where we can, but we cannot guarantee you will get your normal driver/PA (taxi) as they may be self-isolating themselves or looking after someone who is.

Government advice to avoid public transport wherever possible is to help maintain social distancing for those people who have to travel. We are working closely with the bus companies to try to provide sufficient capacity at school times and are asking people to stagger their journeys to work and avoid school times if they can.

Children should wash their hands for 20 seconds before leaving home (as they would for any activity away from home) and, if possible, sanitise their hands before boarding school transport. Similarly, if possible, children should sanitise their hands once they have left the bus, and in any case should wash their hands thoroughly when they re-enter their homes. It is good practice for children not to touch their faces, to cough and sneeze into a tissue or their elbow and should be encouraged at all times, including on school transport to do so. Routine testing of an individual's temperature is not a reliable method for identifying coronavirus.

If you are unhappy about a decision which has been made regarding transport for your child, you can pursue your request further. You should submit, in writing, the circumstances to be considered to the education transport entitlement manager. Email educationtransport@wiltshire.gov.uk, if your child is attending a mainstream school and PTUTransport-requests@wiltshire.gov.uk if your child is attending a special school. If your concern is not managed to your satisfaction by operational staff, it will be escalated to the Head of Service.

The government has advised these will go ahead next year.

The government is consulting on how this can best be achieved but plans are for these exams to go ahead next summer.

Following the cancellation of summer 2020 exams, the exam boards will be providing students with calculated grades (except in some exceptional cases) this summer, which students will use to move onto their next step. DfE has, however, also produced a document  Impact of Covid-19 on Summer Exams:Written statement - HCWS176 and advised that there will be an opportunity for students to and Ofqual has confirmed these exams will be available in all subjects.

This is set by the individual school. Schools should be in touch with you to let you know some of the arrangements and give you school specific information.

Each school will have their own arrangements for transitioning your child into school. Many of our schools do have a staggered start over around two weeks. Your school will be able to advise you of this and discuss any concerns you may have.

 The government guidance says that they would expect children to be going back to school in their uniform, however your school will be able to advise if they are making any changes or adaptations to the uniform policy for this year.

The government are anticipating that school kitchens will be back open and running from September. There maybe some exceptions for this, so please contact your school for clarification.

The government is providing grant funding for state-funded primary, secondary and special schools in the 2020 to 2021 academic year. Whilst headteachers will decide, the government is rolling out a National Tutoring Programme  to deliver proven and successful tuition to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable young people. The evidence shows that tutoring is an effective way to accelerate learning. 

There are a number of online resources that provide ideas on how to talk through concerns with your child. Please have a look at the links below for ideas.

• Triple P UK has a parenting area with information, tips, tools and strategies for parents and carers of children and young people as well as a facebook page.
• Care for the familyhas specific information for parents and carers of children with additional needs as well as generic parenting information as well as a facebook page.
• For support on other issues you can access On Your Mind website which provides free, safe and anonymous online support for young people.

 All schools are required to develop plans to ensure pupils catch up - your school will be able to share these wtih you.

The Wiltshire Parent Carer Council website (WPCC) has dedicated coronavirus pages on its website with lots of SEND specific information, advice, guidance, resources and home learning ideas that is being updated daily. You can call them on 01225 764647 or email: admin@wiltspcc.co.uk. 

Encourage your child to regularly wash their hands. Ensure good respiratory hygiene by promoting the 'catch it, bin it, kill it' approach
If your child has symptoms ensure they stay at home.
Ensure your child does not attend school if they have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or have tested positive in the last 7 days. If you live in the same household as someone with coronavirus symptoms, you must self-isolate straight away for 14 days.