Last updated 05 January 2021
The following page will continue to be updated to reflect the most current information and guidance.
Where to find the latest information
- Current NHS guidance on COVID-19
- Government updates on COVID-19
- Coronavirus Information – Stoke-on-Trent City Council
- Updated: Guidance for full opening: schools
- To be updated: Schools and childcare settings: return in January 2021
- Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
- Face coverings in education
- To be updated: Exams and assessments in 2021
- Coronavirus transmission in schools: your questions answered
- Updated: Government guidance on what parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
- Updated: Critical workers and vulnerable children who can access schools or educational settings
- Updated: Government guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters – World Health Organization (WHO)
- Facts on Coronavirus – Full Fact
Advice and support for parents/carers
General guidance:
- NHS COVID-19 app: Fact sheet for parents, carers and those who are 16 and over
- Remember: If you or your child feels ill and you want to know what to do next, please use NHS 111 online.
- Anyone with one or more of symptoms of coronavirus – a high temperature, a new continuous cough; or a loss or change in sense of smell or taste – should self-isolate and book a test or call 119. Click here to request a home test kit or book a test at a local test centre here: Where can you get tested in Stoke-on-Trent? | Booking a Covid-19 test | Stoke-on-Trent
- The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline remains available to answer questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) relating to education and children’s social care. Please listen carefully to the available options and select the most appropriate to your nursery, school, or college’s current situation. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline by calling 0800 046 8687 (8am-6pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat-Sun)
- If you’re finding it hard at home with your child and are struggling to cope, call Family Lives for free, confidential advice on 0808 800 2222.
- If you’re worried about the safety of another child in our community, call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000. Or call the police on 999 if you think a child is in immediate danger.
- For local support and advice, please contact the Stoke-on-Trent Covid-19 Support Network.
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice and support for parents and carers – NSPCC
- Coronavirus – what it means for you – Citizens Advice
Mass Testing: (More information to follow shortly)
- How to do your test: COVID 19 instruction leaflet for schools (publishing.service.gov.uk)
- Data Protection Frequently Asked Question for parents – COVID testing in Schools and Colleges.
Home learning and online safety:
- Guidance and resources for remote teaching and home learning can be found on our dedicated Home Learning page.
- Government guidance on supporting your children’s education during coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Government guidance for parents and carers to keep children safe online
- Video chatting: a guide for parents and carers of secondary school-age children – Parent Info
- 7 Top Tips to Support Key Stage 2 Children Reading at Home
- How to Manage Parenting, Screen Time & Digital Wellbeing During COVID-19 – Kidscape
- Online resources and advice to support families – Internet Matters
- Six top tips to keep primary kids safe online during school closure – LGFL
- Stay safe at home. Stay safe online. – End Violence Against Children
- Child online safety during lockdown: where to report – Parent Info
- Further links to advice and resources for keeping children safe whilst using the internet can be found on our Online Safety page.
Keeping well:
- It is important children can talk about their concerns and do not bottle up their fears as they see change and worry around them, so don’t pretend nothing is happening. For advice on how to tackle this, please read through the following:
- Government guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
- Talking with children about coronavirus – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Looking after a child or young person’s mental health – Every Mind Matters
- Where can your child get mental health support online during lockdown? – Parent Info
- Supporting children and young people with worries about COVID-19 – Emerging Minds
- 10 tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus – NHS
- Coronavirus and your mental health – Mind
- Looking after your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak – Mental Health Foundation
- How to keep mentally healthy during uncertain times – Action for Happiness
- Coping calendar – Action for Happiness
- Five values to teach our kids in lockdown – Islam21c
- Muslim Mental Health: The Services and Organisations You Can Contact – Amaliah
Advice and support for students
- Catch it. Kill it. Bin it. – NHS
- Du’a for protection from harm -An Nasihah Publications
- Du’a for protection from Illnesses – An Nasihah Publications
- Coronavirus series – CBBC Newsround
- Coronavirus and your wellbeing – for young people – Mind
- Coronavirus and mental health – Young Minds
- 10 tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus – Every Mind Matters
- Find out about coronavirus and what you can do if you’re worried – Childline
- Structured Home Learning Ideas – Careermap
- How to Get Ahead During Lockdown: Advice from a Careers Adviser – RateMyApprenticeship
- Further links to advice and resources about mental health and wellbeing can be found on our Pastoral Care page.
- Further links to advice and resources about staying safe whilst using the internet can be found on our Online Safety page.
