Coronavirus (COVID-19): information and advice

Advice and information for children and young people with SEND, and their families.

We have provided some resources that you may find useful to help your family with any questions or concerns you have during this time.

For home learning resources visit the resource directory on the Bristol Learning City website. The directory includes resources for children and young people with SEND. 

Exemptions to wearing a face covering in England

Children and young people don’t need to wear a face covering if they:

• are under the age of 11
• are not able to put on, wear or remove one because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
• experience severe distress from putting on, wearing or removing one

Find more guidance on who is exempt on the GOV UK website.

Information about testing children and young people for coronavirus (COVID-19)

• What parents need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges during COVID-19 on GOV.UK
• NHS guidance about coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms in children
• COVID-19 home test: step-by-step guide on GOV.UK
• A guide to regular rapid COVID-19 testing for parents with children at nurseries, schools and colleges (pdf, 86KB) (opens new window)
• How to do a rapid COVID-19 test (pdf, 283KB) (opens new window)
• A pupil and parent’s guide to the rapid lateral flow test (easy-read) (pdf, 1.1MB) (opens new window)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations

Vaccinations are currently only for people aged 18 and over.

• Easy read leaflets on GOV.UK
• Mencap has advice for people with a learning disability
• The National Autistic Society has information about the vaccines
• Watch a video about the vaccine for people with a learning disability and autistic people
• Watch a young autistic man talk about his experience of having the vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccination resources for children and young people on GOV.UK

Short breaks service update

Find information about how Short Breaks continue to run their service on the Community short breaks page on our Community Short Breaks page. 

Children’s Personal Budgets/Direct Payments

If you use Direct Payments to employ Personal Assistants (PAs) then you must have a plan in place if the PA can’t come to work because of the coronavirus.

This might include family or friends or alternative staff members coming in to support you. 

If staff or family or friends are not able to provide the care you need, then email: InclusionService@bristol.gov.uk

In your message you should give us your: 

• full name
• child's name
• contact telephone number

We'll respond to you no later than the next working day.

If you can't email us then call the office. Our reduced staff will take your details and send the email on your behalf. 

All non-urgent matters which do not require immediate action will be dealt with by our home based staff.

Emergency payments available for families returning to school 

The Bristol City Council Local Crisis Prevention Fund (LCPF) is available for children and young people returning to school and you need help to cover payments for:

• food
• school uniforms
• shoes 
• stationary

The payments are awarded in supermarket vouchers. You won’t have to pay anything back.

You can apply for the emergency payment on the Apply for an emergency payment page. If you need help applying, you can ask the child's or young person’s teacher or health professional to help you. 

Other information and advice

Advice and Support

You can get advice and support from:

• Childline: call 0800 1111 or visit Childline website
• Bristol Samaritans : call  0330 094 5717 or visit Bristol Samaritans website
• Child Mind Institute article: Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
• Elsa Support: Coronavirus Story for Children
• SEND And You (SAY): call  0117 989 7725 or visit SEND And You (SAY)
• Mencap: information and easy read guide
• Bristol Support and Advice Line (SAL): telephone and online support to parents/carers, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, call 07464 357574 or email sal@bibic.org.uk
• Contact: find the latest information for families with disabled children, and support available

Mental health

You can get advice about mental health support from:

• CAMHS (if young person is currently under CAMHS)  call 01454 862431 or if you are concerned that you're not able to keep your child safe or they're not able to keep themselves safe then take them to the Accident and Emergency department at Bristol Children’s hospital or call for an ambulance
• Mental health apps approved by NHS 
• BBC news: Coronavirus: How to protect your mental health
• Find mental health services in Bristol 

Emergency 

Emergency information:

• Police: call 101 for non-urgent or 999 if urgent and an immediate response is needed
• NHS: check if you have coronavirus symptons and stay at home advice
• Safeguarding children: call the First Response Team on 0117 903 6444
• Access and Response Team  (for Safeguarding concerns) call 01454 86 6000 (during working hours)
• Emergency duty team
• SEND hospital passport and NHS COVID-19 grab and go form