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Open Letter From Government Minister
Vicky Ford MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, has written this open letter explaining how the wider opening of schools and other educational settings may affect your family. It includes a link to recently updated guidance for special schools, specialist colleges, local authorities and any other settings managing children and young people with complex SEND.
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EHC Legislation Changes - Extension
The Department of Education have announced they’ve extended the changes for a local authority to act on provisions for children and young people with EHC plans for a further month till 30th June.
Council for Disabled Children - FAQ
Each week, the Council for Disabled Children receives questions from parents and carers and shares these with the Department for Education (DfE) and colleagues with specialist knowledge. Here’s the latest weekly CDC FAQ and you can find all of them here. If you would like to ask a question, email CDCQuestions@ncb.org.uk.
Back To School Packs
Staff from Educational Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy, and CAMHS in Manchester have put together four ‘Back To School’ packs. They’ve been written for Manchester's autistic students but will be relevant for many other children and young people and their families: Schools & teachers, Parents, Young people, Younger children
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Returning To School - Top Tips
The Royal College of Occupational Therapists has produced this sheet of top tips to help your child with the return to school, especially if they find change difficult to handle. It suggests some of the ways they can gain a sense of control over the uncertainties.
School Support - ChatterPack
ChatterPack, a voluntary-run, special educational needs and disabilities hub, have produced a fun and inclusive resource to use with children and young people who might have difficulties understanding and following social distancing - £3.50 to download. They also have free resource lists, including boredom-busting and home-schooling activities.
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Getting NHS Help – Easy-read
NHS England has produced easy-read information on getting NHS help during the coronavirus outbreak. It includes information on hospital appointments, medication, getting help from a dentist or optician, and looking after feelings.
Understanding The Test & Trace System
The Government has brought in the Test and Trace system to help ease the national lockdown. Here are the guidelines on test and trace and how it works. As there’s quite a lot of information, this Q&A interview with David Regan, Director of Public Health in Manchester, may make it easier to understand. It’s important to remember that you should still continue to follow social-distancing guidelines and stay at home as much as possible.
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Updated Shielding Guidance
Children and adults who are listed as clinically extremely vulnerable are now allowed to go outdoors once a day in your household group. This should be done while maintaining social distance - keeping two metres apart - from others. Here’s some information from the charity Contact.
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Manchester City Council
Don’t forget, Manchester City Council has a dedicated helpline to help residents cope at this time. It can help with a range of needs, including delivery of food and medication, and managing fuel top-up payments. As part of the service, Manchester residents who have internet access at home but are not able to use the web confidently, can now be offered one-to-one digital support over the telephone.
Call 0800 234 6123 between 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.
The Council also has a coronavirus information hub, with regular updates around schools, housing, leisure facilities, bin collections etc.
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Housing Advice
The support options around mortgages and renting during the pandemic are short-term and people may need help to prepare for what happens when they end. Manchester Citizens Advice can provide advice – see their website for contact details and their Out of Advice Service (7pm-10pm, 7 days a week). The Council’s coronavirus information hub also has information around housing.
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WellChild – Vital Services & Supplies
WellChild, the charity for children with exceptional health needs, has COVID-19 Information & Resources for Families. This includes a downloadable warning poster for the front door, information for parents with ventilated children, and advice around coming out of lockdown. They are also still running their COVID-19 Direct Response Service to assist where families are experiencing financial hardship in accessing vital supplies. Families can self-refer or be referred, using the form on the website.
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Mental Health & Wellbeing |
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Ear For You: Helpline For BAME Families
This Greater Manchester Service offers support to any black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) family who are self-isolating, recovering, bereaved, or have family members who need help. Call 07862 279289/07894 126157 or text HELP and someone will get back to you. Open 7 days a week 10am-6pm. www.nestac.org.uk
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Mind Listening Service
Manchester Mind’s new Listening Service for adults is now available. This service is for anyone over 25 who lives in Manchester and is struggling with their mental health, social isolation, or worries and anxieties. Ring 0161 769 5732 between 10am and 2pm (if phone lines are busy or you call outside of these hours, leave a message and someone will get back to you). You can also email info@manchestermind.org.
See the Young People section below for an update on their service for under 25s.
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SilverCloud – Free Online Therapy
SilverCloud is now available for all Greater Manchester residents. This is a free, online therapy programme to help with stress, anxiety, low mood and depression during the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Support In Greater Manchester
For a list of COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing resources in Greater Manchester see here. They’ve been grouped under topic headings to make it easier to find what you need, including learning disability, ADHD and autism.
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Sensory Stories With Library Staff |
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Manchester Libraries have shared their first sensory storytime on You Tube – Wake up, Lydia! Staff will be filming a sensory story every month for younger children, including songs, rhymes and actions. Visit Manchester Libraries’ YouTube channel to view them and their other great stories and crafts.
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Creative Takeaways
Free Creative Wellbeing Packs are available for neurodivergent young people in Manchester aged 13-25. All participants receive a creativity wellbeing pack in the post, one-to-one or small group virtual sessions via FaceTime or WhatsApp, and access to online creative wellbeing activities via YouTube, Facebook or Instagram. It’s part of a project by Starling, a charity that uses creativity and the arts to amplify the lived experience of neurodivergent young people. There’s more information on Manchester Parent Carer Forum’s website, including this You Tube video.
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Myplace Eco-Therapy Sessions
The Myplace project offers free weekly online eco-therapy sessions for young people in Lancashire, Manchester and north Merseyside. They help reduce loneliness, provide connection to nature and to others, and offer support and fun in safe, small supportive groups. Young people aged 16-24 can self-refer online. 12–15 year olds can be referred by organisations and agencies using this form (on the left of the page).
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Mental Health Support In Manchester
An online leaflet has been produced for children and young people to support their mental health and wellbeing. It includes information on free digital services, like Kooth and Shout, and local helplines.
Manchester Mind have free services for young people that they have adapted at this time. See their website for information about counselling, advice, their Listening Ear helpline and virtual Wellbeing Café.
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Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has returned to business as usual for concessionary passes, re-introducing peak restrictions from 9:30am. Try not to use public transport unless you have to. Further details and advice can be found on the TfGM website.
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An international research project has set up an online survey to find out how people with special needs are coping with the coronavirus pandemic. This includes hearing from parents and carers about experiences, which might be health issues, coping with social distancing, or the suspension of different kinds of support. The survey is anonymous and takes about 30 minutes to complete.
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