Last updated 01 July 2021

The following page will continue to be updated to reflect the most current information and guidance.

Where to find the latest information

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) – NHS
• Symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) – NHS
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support – GOV.UK
• Coronavirus information | Stoke-on-Trent
• Schools coronavirus (COVID-19) operational guidance – GOV.UK
• Updated: Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection – GOV.UK
• Face coverings in education – GOV.UK
• Transport to schools and colleges: 2020 to 2021 academic year – GOV.UK
• Coronavirus transmission in schools: your questions answered – Education in the media
• Updated: What parents need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges during COVID-19 – GOV.UK
• Children of critical workers and vulnerable children who can access schools or educational settings – GOV.UK
• Updated: Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – GOV.UK
• 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:

• 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
• NHS COVID-19 app: Fact sheet for parents, carers and those who are 16 and over
• 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.
• How to Deal with Children During Covid-19 | NSPCC
• Coronavirus – rules you need to follow – Citizens Advice

  Lateral flow testing:

• Understanding lateral flow antigen testing for people without symptoms – GOV.UK
• How to do your test: COVID 19 instruction leaflet for schools – GOV.UK
• How to do a COVID-19 Self Test (rapid antigen test) – YouTube
• Data Protection Frequently Asked Question for parents – COVID testing in Schools and Colleges
• Households and bubbles of pupils, students and staff of schools, nurseries and colleges: get rapid lateral flow tests – GOV.UK
• Schools, nurseries and colleges testing: order coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow home test kits – GOV.UK
• COVID-19 self-test help – GOV.UK
• Where can you get tested in Stoke-on-Trent? | Booking a Covid-19 test | Stoke-on-Trent
• Report a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result – GOV.UK
• Get a free PCR test to check if you have coronavirus – GOV.UK
• Official MHRA side effect and adverse incident reporting site for coronavirus treatments and vaccines | Coronavirus (COVID-19)

  Exams in Summer 2021:

• Exams and assessments in 2021 – GOV.UK
• Awarding qualifications in summer 2021 – GOV.UK
• Student guide to awarding: summer 2021 – GOV.UK
• Teacher assessed grades for students – GOV.UK
• Guidance for Students and Parents: GCSEs in England in Summer 2021 – JCQ

  Home learning and online safety:

• Guidance and resources for remote teaching and home learning can be found on our dedicated Home Learning page.
• Supporting your children’s remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19) – GOV.UK
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online – GOV.UK
• Distance learning with Microsoft 365: Guidance for parents and guardians
• 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
• #StaySafeStayHome – Helpful Online Resources | Internet Matters
• Six top tips to keep primary kids safe online during school closure – LGFL
• Stay safe at home. Stay safe online. | End Violence
• Supporting your child with reporting unwanted content online | 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 Disease 2019 | CDC
  • 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
  • Five values to teach our kids in lockdown – Islam21c
  • Muslim Mental Health: The Services and Organisations You Can Contact | Amaliah
  • 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
  • Staying-Home-in-Style-Interactive-.pdf – Strengthening Minds

Advice and support for students

• A letter to young people from Gavin Williamson MP, Secretary of State for Education – Education in the media
• 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.