Coronavirus updates
NEWS UPDATE: Please note that all DSPL7 training is postponed for the foreseeable future. DSPL7 will not be running any courses/workshops for the remainder of the Summer term. This includes: SEND Briefings (April, June and July), Primary Transition Event (May), Class to Class Transition (May), Behaviour Leads (May and July), Simple Solutions workshops (May and July) and Zones of Regulation (April). 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.
Support and information about the Coronavirus for parents and carers
Coronavirus: Supporting a Child or Young Person with SEND
- The Hertfordshire Local offer have created a coronavirus updates webpage on their website, so they can keep families of children and young people informed with the latest messages from Special Educational Needs and Disabilities services relating to Coronavirus. They will be posting information which is relevant to SEND to this page as soon as messages become available. The webpage is also easy to find from their Local Offer homepage. They have a lot of very helpful documents and resources.
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) – what you need to know
- Working from home with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia
- Autism Parenting Magazine – The importance of giving kids with ASD some space during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Supporting Children with a Learning Disability/ASD – coping with the COVID-19 Isolation
- Sensory Processing – Health and Wellness
- Coronavirus Lockdown with kids: Setting a steady pace for home learning
- Special Needs Jungle: Distance Education Resources for Children and Young People with SEND
- Helping young people with Autism and families with a child with autism understand Coronavirus
- Special Needs Jungle: Coronavirus information relevant for SEND families
- BBC Parents’ Toolkit: SEND Resources, Activities and Support to help you and your family during lockdown!
- Gov.uk – Help children with SEND continue their education during Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- How is the Coronavirus lockdown affecting the mental health of children with SEND?
- National Autistic Society – Coronavirus resources
- Council for disabled children – Covid-19 support and guidance
- Severe Learning Disability Lockdown card
- Dimensions – Advice, resources and activities to get through the Coronavirus crisis
- National Autistic Society: guidance on supporting children with SEND to return to school
- Temporary change to the law around some parts of the EHCP process flyer
- NHS COVID-19 Grab and Go Form – to assist individuals with learning disabilities or autism when visiting the hospital.
- NHS COVID-19 Grab and Go Guidance Notes
- Special Educational Needs – 14 free online courses for parents and professionals
- Specialist Training in Autism and Raising Standards – Coronavirus Resources
- Living with a disability during a pandemic
- Face Covering Exemption Card
- Supporting Autistic people as lockdown eases
- NAS: Restrictions on going out and shielding in England
- Autism Little Learners Resources: distance learning related stories
- Ambitious about Autism: How to do a test for Coronavirus at home – An autism-friendly guide to testing your child or young person
- Ambitious about Autism: What is Coronavirus home testing? A visual story explaining the Coronavirus home testing kit
- Support for Autistic children and bereavement
Coronavirus: Mental Health
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Tips for during the Lockdown
- Coronavirus and your wellbeing
- How the Coronavirus affects young people’s mental health
- How to explore your child’s worries
- Spot the Signs and Emotional Wellbeing Webinars – timetable
- Care Leavers Meeting place (18-24 year olds) – support for mental health and wellbeing – see link
- Young People’s Virtual Group (15+) – provides a space for individuals to socially connect and access mental health support – see link
- YC Hertfordshire Services for Young People – offering online youth projects focusing on reducing social isolation, support with routines, anxiety, boredom and general listening and sharing practical skills and support.
- The Wellness Society – Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook
- Supporting Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing during Coronavirus – information for professionals Please note on the Pages 2 & 4 the link for the Ollie training should read https://theolliefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ONLINE-TRAINING-SCHEDULE-8-April-2.pdf.
- Parents tips for looking after yourself in lockdown
- 8 ways a child’s anxiety shows up as something else
- 5 Teaching Ideas Connected to Pixar’s Movie Inside Out
- How to deal with anxiety: 4 tips from someone who lives with it
- 20 tips for a better sleep
- Supporting your teen’s emotional health during the Covid-19 outbreak
- SEND documents and resources (mental health)
- Anger Volcano
- Coping with bereavement
- Books supporting the emotional wellbeing of children and young people
- Extra Mental Health Support for Pupils and Teachers
- Coping with Social Anxiety during Social Distancing
- Stem4: Resources
- Stem4: Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Coronavirus (COVID-19) – a booklet for parents
- 7 free Counselling and Mental Health Services available in the UK and Ireland
- Supporting your child during the Coronavirus Pandemic
- 5 ways to manage your wellbeing as a parent during lockdown
- 5 tips to help your child during COVID-19 pandemic
- Top 10 tips to look after your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
- HCC Coronavirus bereavement guides: A guide for adults
- HCC Coronavirus bereavement guides: A guide for parents and carers supporting children who have been bereaved
- How sensations and thoughts can create difficult emotional difficulties
- Zones of regulation home check-in
- Parents’ tips for supporting an anxious child in lockdown
- 10 ways for parents to help children cope with change
- Anxiety buster tool: activity sheet
- Responding to a big emotion
- 5 things to remember when working with challenging behaviour
- Support for Autistic children and bereavement
- School Closure Toolkit
- IAPT Psychological Wellbeing Webinar – Finding a balance: Support for Parents of School Age Children
- Coping and Well-being during COVID-19: a Guide for Staff and Parents
- Young Minds: From parent to parent – a guide for getting through Coronavirus for parents and carers
- Young Minds: Wellbeing Activity Calendar
- Children and Young People’s Wellbeing
- Wellbeing Tips for Families
- #SelfcareSummer Secondary Pack
Coronavirus: Home Activities for Children and Young People
- PE planning at home – home activities.
- Play Ideas and Weekly Activity Packs – Home Learning Hub
- Meaningful Autism Awareness Crafts for Kids
- Easter Activities
- Potential Kids Yoga
- Weekly online music workshops for children with SEND – (English Touring Opera)
- PE with Joe
- 16 everyday activities that count as learning
- Soap Foam Sensory Play for Kids
- Types of Cloud Worksheet
- Bloomsbury Early Years – free online library of activities and educational resources for children aged 0-5
- Theatre for everyone: Weekly online drama and yoga
- Read along with Little Princess
- School Closure Toolkit
- Young Minds: Wellbeing Activity Calendar
- Twinkl: Summer Activity Booklet
Coronavirus: Information for Children and Young People
- Coronavirus easyread children’s book
- Coronavirus – social distancing
- Coping with Change – ‘Schools Out’ document
- Children’s comissioner – A guide to Coronavirus
- Coronavirus: A social story for children with good literacy skills
- Coronavirus poster
- Easy Read information about the Coronavirus
- Time to Come In, Bear: A children’s story about social distancing
- Why do people need to wear PEE in Covid-19?
- Covid-19 Germ Experiment Video
- Coronavirus – a book for children (Nosy Crow)
- Saying Goodbye – a short animation to help parents talk to their children about the death of a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- My Hero is You – IASC storybook for children on Covid-19.
- Looking after your mental health and wellbeing during Coronavirus – Information for Children and Young People.
- Public Health COVID-19 Webinar for Young People: A recording of the LIVE Young Peoples Covid-19 webinar is now available.
- Hertfordshire’s response to Children and Young People’s Feedback on Mental Health and Wellbeing in relation to Coronavirus
- HMN Helpline for children and young people aged 10-17 in Herts which will provide emotional support, advice and information, signposting and discuss coping strategies – Helpline number: 01923 256391. They are also able to offer support to parents either through this line, or their 18+ 24/7 line, reached through the same number.
- “Be Okay” – a video telling the story of Gulliver the street cat’s experiences of the current pandemic.
- The World has Turned Upside Down story
- How do I feel worksheet
- Mencap: What may happen if I have to go to hospital because of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Mencap: What may happen if someone else I know has to go to hospital because of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Mencap: Why we wear PPE
- Wearing a Mask story board – Part one
- Wearing a Mask story board – Part two
- We Wear Masks – a social story about the Coronavirus
- Stem4: Worried about Coronavirus (COVID-19)? – a booklet for young people
- Homemade Face Coverings
- YC Hertfordshire: Support for young people during the coronavirus outbreak
- Ambitious about Autism: What is Coronavirus home testing? A visual story explaining the Coronavirus home testing kit
- HCC Coronavirus bereavement guides: A guide for children and young people
- Health for teens – Chat Health
- #SelfcareSummer Secondary Pack
Coronavirus: Education Resources
- Education Resources – learning outside the classroom
- Managing the transition to home schooling
- BBC Bitesize Daily Online Lessons
- Oak National Academy – Online Classroom (for teachers)
- Teachit Geography – Home Learning Resources
- English Touring Opera – Weekly online music workshops for children with SEND
- PE with Joe
- 16 everyday activities that count as learning
- Herts Adult and Family Learning Service – free courses for those over the age of 19
- Bloomsbury Early Years – free online library of activities and educational resources for children aged 0-5
- Oaklands Open Event Webinars – Virtual Open Day webinars
Coronavirus: Support and Advice Lines
- 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.
- Educational Psychologists Contactline Update
- SEND Specialist Advice and Support Advice line Update
- Hertfordshire crisis helpline – available to provide emotional support 24/7
- HMN Helpline for children and young people aged 10-17 in Herts which will provide emotional support, advice and information, signposting and discuss coping strategies – Helpline number: 01923 256391. They are also able to offer support to parents either through this line, or their 18+ 24/7 line, reached through the same number.
- Connected Together – telephone and online Covid-19 Support.
- HABS – Where to get support during school closures
- ADD-vance Services available during the Covid-19 Pandemic
- ADD-vance – Free Online Support Groups
- ADD-vance – Helpline
- ADD-vance – Coaching Services (+ coaching agreement and referral form)
- Schools and Families Advice Line (SFAL)
- Specific Learning Difficulties Advice Line
- NHS Hertfordshire Partnership University – Mental Health Support line 24/7
- Mencap: Learning Disability Helpline
- Family Lives: Teens challenging you in lockdown? Online group support
- Family lives helpline: Family Lives offers a confidential and free* helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously known as Parentline). Please call us on 0808 800 2222 for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. Their helpline service is open 9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday and 10am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday.
- Family lives: Live Chat – You can now chat online if you want to talk about an issue. They are open 1.30pm to 5.30pm every weekday (excluding bank holidays).
- Hertfordshire Mind Services Timetable 2020
- ADD-vance newsletter 2020 (support services)
Coronavirus: Returning to School & Easing Lockdown
- Covid-19 Return to School Video
- Covid-19 Social Story – School is Opening
- Returning to School diagram
- My Lockdown Experience
- Hints & Tips for Parents to Support Transition Back to School
- Transitioning back to School feelings chart
- Things to Keep me Calm
- Early Years Transition for children with Speech, Language, Communication Needs and Autism
- Year 6 Transition for children with Speech, Language, Communication Needs and Autism
- How to Prepare your child for School Transitions
- 5 ideas to help your autistic child transition back to school
- Preparing your child for the first day back at school
- National Autistic Society: guidance on supporting children with SEND to return to school
- ACAMH – Tips for returning to school video
- ACAMH – Supporting children returning to school after the lockdown fact sheet
- Chase the rainbow resources: My School Box
- Twinkl resources: returning to school social situation
- Back to School – A Social Story
- BPS: Back to school transition – the importance of playtime
- SEN Resource Sources – Going back to school after Coronavirus
- Supporting a child returning to school after lockdown
- Homemade Face Coverings
- Coming back to school in a bubble
- In It Together: Returning to School after Lockdown video
- Ambitious about Autism: Preparing for the transition back to school or college – questions to ask
- 11 Resources to help children settle back into school after lockdown
- Busy Life: Going back to school – my social story
- How to cope after Covid-19 and the Pandemic
- MIND: Managing feelings about lockdown easing
- #SelfcareSummer Secondary Pack
Support and information about the Coronavirus for professionals
Mental Health
- Supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during Coronavirus – information for professionals (pdf version)
- Bereavement Awareness Training for schools and Early Years settings
- Mindfulness sessions
- Positive Minds Online
- Mentally Healthy Schools’ Coronavirus Toolkits
- Returning to School – Wellbeing Document
- Special Educational Needs – 14 free online courses for parents and professionals
- HCC Coronavirus bereavement guides: A guide for parents, carers and professionals supporting children who have been bereaved
- Coping and Well-being during COVID-19: a Guide for Staff and Parents
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:Young Minds – What to do if you’re anxious about coronavirus
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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.They have also developed three videos which will hopefully be helpful to share as follows:
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.