All schools have a duty to write a risk assessment based on the impact of covid-19, which can be requested by parents.

You might want to request and read your school’s risk assessment, as it can help to give you an understanding of how the school is planning on keeping children and staff safe. The risk assessment should also outline what expectations the school have on parents are and what expectations the parents can have on the school.

As a parent, you may also find this document which outlines the UK Government’s expectations on school safety as a result of covid-19 useful.

Throughout the covid-19 outbreak, schools and childcare providers have been asked to stay open for vulnerable children and children whose parents are classified as ‘key workers’. This means that schools and childcare providers have remained open throughout for some children living with TSC, depending their circumstances.

A child is considered vulnerable if they cannot be safely cared for in their home. The definition of ‘vulnerable children’ includes disabled children, those with education, health and care (EHC) plans and those who are supported by social care. This may include many children and young people who are living with TSC.

If you are a parent or carer of a vulnerable child or if you are a key worker, we recommend contacting your local authority, who will then redirect you to a school in your area that your child can attend.

When will schools and colleges open?

The Government is asking primary schools to welcome back children in nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside vulnerable children and key worker children, from Monday 1 June 2020.

From week commencing Monday 15 June 2020 at the earliest, the Government is asking secondary schools, sixth forms and further education colleges to offer some face-to-face support to supplement the remote education of year 10 and year 12 students who are due to take key exams next year, alongside vulnerable children and key worker children.

Supporting SEND students

The Government has published advice on supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND) as schools and colleagues prepare for wider opening.

The advice includes information on children and young people with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans and others with complex needs, as well as children and young people with SEND who do not have an EHC plan but whose school, college or local authority has carried out a discretionary risk assessment. You can find this advice here.

From Monday 1 June 2020, the Government is asking special schools and hospital schools to work towards a phased return of more children and young people. This phased return does not focus on specific year groups and is informed by risk assessments.

From Monday 15 June 2020, the Government is asking specialist post-16 institutions to work towards a phased return of young people, without a focus on specific year groups or proportion of learners. This will be informed by risk assessments.

Local authorities and education settings are expected to work together to consider the needs of individuals with SEND, and carry out, review and keep up to date risk assessments based on these needs. The aim is for more children to return to an education setting, but where this is not appropriate (for example, due to medical condition making them extremely vulnerable to the effects of covid-19), the risk assessments should help to inform decisions about the support that the child should receive at home.

All children and young people are expected to be back in full time education by Tuesday 18 August.

Measures to support the reopening of schools in Scotland include:

• Risk assessments should be undertaken and kept under review as circumstances may change. All children, staff and parents/carers should be informed of plans. Individual risk assessments should be undertaken for people identified as higher risk
• Enhanced personal hygiene must be practised, with handwashing on arrival, at breaks, when boarding school transport, and before and after eating. This includes arrangements to support children with complex needs who may need assistance with this
• Social distancing at 2m should be maintained between adults / adults and children in education settings. Social distancing isn’t essential between children, but children should maintain in consistent groups throughout the school day
• Adults should wear face coverings where they cannot maintain a 2m distance and are engaging with children face-to-face for a prolonged period of time

Special consideration should be given to how to support people who have been shielding and those with additional support needs.

More information can be found on the Scottish Government website here.

The Autumn term is expected to begin on Tuesday 1 September and schools that can accommodate all learners from the start of the term should do so. It is expected that planning and preparation days for risk assessments and processes will take place at the start of term. From Monday 14 September, school attendance will be compulsory for all learners.

Schools and settings must take measures to:

• Revisit and update their risk assessments
• Minimise contact between all individuals. For younger learners, by forming groups and for older learners by social/physical distancing
• Enhance hand hygiene and encourage hand washing more often
• Enhance cleaning and ventilation of rooms by opening doors and windows

Learners who have previously been shielding and advised that they no longer need to shield should be supported in returning back to school.

More information can be found on the Welsh Government website here.

In Northern Ireland, the start of the new school term will be Monday 24 August for Primary 7, Year 12 and Year 14 pupils and for vulnerable children across all year groups. All other pupils will return to school from the week commencing Monday 31 August.  This return will be on a full-time basis of five days a week for every pupil, including those pupils who attend Special Schools.

Schools must ensure:

• Adults / adults and the pupils they’re working with remain 2m apart. This can be reduced to 1m between younger children (Year 10 and under)
• Regular hand washing throughout the day, with additional support for those who need it from a member of staff wearing PPE

For children and young people who need extra help, a return to school at a different date may be arranged with the parent/carer. Your school will tell you about this if needed. Schools may also ask for what changes you think should be taking place to keep your child safe and ready to return to learning.

More information can be found here.

It’s understandable that many parents may feel nervous about allowing their child to re-enter mainstream and face-to-face education. To help you to come to a decision that is right for you and your family, you might find that asking the following questions helps to bring reassurance around the risk of covid-19 in schools:

1. How is the school managing social distancing at all times, including school drop-offs and parents/carers entering the premises?
2. Are there any limitations to what children can bring into school, such as stationary or toys?
3. Are school meals still being served, or do children need to go in with their own lunch?
4. Have staff been given appropriate training around social distancing and minimising the risk of spreading covid-19?
5. Has there been any thought towards the emotional impact on children of returning to school and how things will be different for them?
6. How is the school managing cleanliness, including managing when children need to use the toilet and additional hand washing?
7. Is there anything I should be doing as a parent/carer to help minimise the spread of covid-19 in schools?
8. Are before/after-school activities (such as a breakfast club) continuing or changing in any way?

The Council for Disabled Children has a great infographic listing ways to ensure that your child is reassured about returning to school, whilst also helping parents/carers to feel more in control: