Coronavirus updates
Please note that all DSPL7 training is postponed for the foreseeable future. Please check the website and Facebook for further updates. Apologies for any inconvenience caused. For courses run by other organisations please check with the providers if these are still going ahead.
Please email admin@dspl7.org.uk if you would like to get in contact rather than calling the office, as the administrative team are currently working from home following government advice. Thank you.
- Hertfordshire Local offer: We have just created a coronavirus updates webpage on the Local Offer website, so we can keep families of children and young people informed with the latest messages from special educational needs and disabilities services relating to coronavirus. We will be posting to this page as soon as messages become available, and we will be posting information which is relevant to SEND. The webpage is also easy to find from our Local Offer homepage too.
- Specialist Advisory Teacher Advice Line: To support children with communication and autism needs and their families during this unsettled period, the Specialist Advisory Teachers will be extending the hours of our telephone advice line from Monday 23rd March until the schools reopen. It will be open daily between 10am and 2pm (term time) to provide advice and guidance for parents and carers. If you wish to speak to a Specialist Advisory Teacher please call 01442 453920 during these times. Please note: We are unable to provide advice in relation to the coronavirus or the duration of school closures.
Useful links on how to look after our mental health and emotional wellbeing:
Due to the unprecedented nature of this situation, there are many unanswered questions, and lots of media attention, which can lead to anxiety and stress among children, young people, parents/ carers and colleagues. We hope that you will find the following information about how to look after our mental health and emotional well being helpful.
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- Young Minds have published great resources and ideas about things adults and young people can do to manage any stress and anxiety they may experience in relation to coronavirus, including:
Young Minds – What to do if you’re anxious about coronavirus
Young Minds – Talking to your child about coronavirus
Young Minds – How to look after your mental health when self isolatingThey also have a mental health advice line available for parents operating between 09:30am-4pm, Monday- Friday: 0808 802 5544.
- Young Minds have published great resources and ideas about things adults and young people can do to manage any stress and anxiety they may experience in relation to coronavirus, including:
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- Centers for Disease Control and prevention – how to talk to children about Coronavirus:
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- Every Mind Matters – general information about looking after your mental health (which would be relevant during this challenging time as much as at any other time) and top tips to improve emotional wellbeing, as well as tips on how to look after your mental well being whilst staying at home.
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- Education Support website – dedicated to supporting the mental health and well being of education staff in schools, colleges and universities. It contains free information, including a free 24/7 helpline at 08000 562 561 and also has financial advice information for supply teachers.
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- Mind Hertfordshire Network – provides a crisis helpline for anyone experiencing mental health distress or requiring emotional support and signposting. Professionals, family/ friends can call on someone’s behalf with the individual’s consent.
Crisis Helpline number: 01923 256 391, or visit https://www.hertsmindnetwork.org/
- Mind Hertfordshire Network – provides a crisis helpline for anyone experiencing mental health distress or requiring emotional support and signposting. Professionals, family/ friends can call on someone’s behalf with the individual’s consent.
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- The Anna Freud Centre ‘Schools in Mind’ have worked closely with settings to help promote whole-school and college approaches to wellbeing. They are conscious that the Coronavirus is creating increased pressure and additional workload for school and college staff at an already busy time of the school year. Therefore, they have produced the following document which they hope will give some guidance about how to maintain children’s wellbeing at a time of uncertainty.
They have also developed three videos which will hopefully be helpful to share as follows:
Video for schools staff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjSh5SYWFqM&feature=youtu.beVideo for parents:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnANLAcpRZ4&feature=youtu.beVideo for children and young people:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME5IZn4-BAk&feature=youtu.be
- The Anna Freud Centre ‘Schools in Mind’ have worked closely with settings to help promote whole-school and college approaches to wellbeing. They are conscious that the Coronavirus is creating increased pressure and additional workload for school and college staff at an already busy time of the school year. Therefore, they have produced the following document which they hope will give some guidance about how to maintain children’s wellbeing at a time of uncertainty.
There will be a weekly update via the Healthy Young Minds in Herts website where the information above will also be shared and there will be helpful safe advice around managing self-care. There will also be a webpage for young people and families, focussed on how to cope during periods of self-isolation, appearing very soon on www.justtalkherts.org.