Signposting for teachers, parents, and children and young people from groups of who may be more vulnerable during this time of school closures and social isolation.
| Children who are: | Risks or concerns | Available advice and support |
| · looked after at home | · strain on or breakdown of relationships
· strain due to financial/employment instability of primary carer · lack of confidence/capacity of parent to support wellbeing/education of child · lack of parental control and ability to ensure YP self-isolates/stays in · child protection issues · worry about upcoming Children’s Hearing |
Advice for:
Parents and Children and Young People · Local Social Work Offices (email/telephone) · Out of hours Social Work (email/telephone) · SCRA: Coronavirus and your Hearing Children and Young People |
| · in kinship or foster care | · strain on or breakdown of relationships
· strain due to financial/employment instability of primary carer · breakdown of placement · lack of carer’s control and ability to ensure YP self-isolates/stays in · lack of confidence/capacity of carer to support wellbeing/education of child · worry about upcoming Children’s Hearing |
Advice for:
Kinship and Foster carers Parents, Carers and Young People · SCRA: Coronavirus and your Hearing |
| · in a residential unit or school | · group living ->higher risk of social contact and spread of virus
· loss of placement due to unit closure (for financial reasons or due to virus) · strain on or breakdown of relationships · lack of stability and unit unsettled due to high staff absence · high levels of anxiety in staff and CYP · increased risk of mental health issues such as self-harming · worry about upcoming Children’s Hearing · breakdown of placement |
Advice for:
Local Authority Staff Link to Children’s rights teams Parents and Care Services · Information and guidance for care services and parents about Covid 19/school closures/staffing Parents, Carers and Young People · SCRA: Coronavirus and your Hearing |
| · in a secure care facility | · Last 3 points above plus
· Increased risk of seclusion for long periods of time (due to contraction of virus or lack of staff to safely supervise) · high levels of anxiety in staff and CYP · increased risk of mental health issues eg. self-harming and professional support for this · worry about upcoming trial/children’s hearing |
Advice for:
Parents and Care Services : · Care Inspectorate: Information and guidance for care services about Covid 19/staffing Parents, Carers, and Children and Young People · SCRA: Coronavirus and your Hearing |
| · complex ASNs | · strain on or breakdown of relationships
· strain due to financial/employment instability of primary carer · reduced contact with services to support care routines and moving and handling/postural management routines · increased risk of muscular-skeletal deterioration, bowel and chest management and cardio-vascular wellbeing due to reduced access to postural management equipment. |
Advice for:
Teachers, Parents, and Children and Young People · Afasic– National charity for Developmental Language Disorders offering advice , information and support. · Autism Toolbox – new Covid 19 information page · British Academy of Childhood Disability – Resources · CALL Scotland – symbol resources explaining Covid 19 · CHAS – Support for those with life shortening conditions · ENABLE supporting disabled individuals · ENQUIRE: General advice – ASL · Mencap – how to involve children in decision making · PAMIS –Support and services for those with profound and multiple learning difficulties · The Sensory Projects – COVID 19 educational resources for home-schooling · Wellchild – National Charity for sick children |
| · deaf learners | · deaf parents may find home-schooling difficult
· limited access to information and online learning suitable for deaf learners (or parents) · lack of ongoing mentoring/advocacy support as deaf learners often need face to face support · lack of targeted information in BSL |
Advice for:
Parents and Children and Young People · BSL video with Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance · BSL glossary of subject terms · BSL – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Social Distancing You Tube · BSL users access to the online British Sign Language video relay interpreting service (VRS) 24 / 7 · British Deaf Association Mentoring Officer Email: [email protected] |
| · anxious or have mental health issues | · raised anxiety leading to distressed behaviours, such as, withdrawal, risk taking, self-harming, …
· lack of access to protective factors, such as, familiar places, people, routines… · lack of confidence or capacity of parents/carers to support their child or young person with their anxiety.mental health or the resulting behaviour · increase in anxiety or regression in mental health as isolation period progresses |
Advice for:
· Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for children, families and professionals Young People · Mind for better mental health Parents/carers |
| · young carers | · full time caring responsibilities may increase levels of stress over time
· lack of confidence/capacity of parent to support wellbeing/education of child · lack of practical support for care of parent/sibling · at risk of anxiety/mental health issues (see below) · anxiety about lack of qualifications due to absence or poor performance due to effect of caring responsibilities · lack of connection with or ability to review carer’s statement |
Advice for:
Unpaid carers · Scottish Government advice about Covid-19 Teachers/Parents/Young Carer’s: · Supporting Young Carers in Education Young Carer’s: Young Scot (NB. Young Carer’s Grants available) |
| · June school leavers | · anxiety about lack of evidence for true assessment of levels due to previous absence or poor performance
· pupils studying at N3/4 level – no prelims or potentially coursework due to absence · worry that pupils will leave school without entrance requirements for College in September |
Advice for:
All SQA website for guidance about exams/coursework
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Useful mixed resources and guidance from Association of Scottish Principle Educational Psychologists
