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Please find below some resources that may be helpful for parent and carers of children and young people with SEND or children and young people themselves. We recommend that you read this page and also click this link to the wellbeing resources on the other COVID 19 section in the Community section of this website.
The Government has issued guidance on face coverings: when to wear one and how to make your own (opens a new window)
This includes guidances about when you do not need to wear a face covering and exemptions.
Exemption cards or badges
Some people may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering. This could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign.
This is a personal choice, and is not necessary in law.
If you would like to use an exemption card you can use the PDF attachments on this page(opens a new window)
Those who have an age, health or disability reason to not wear a face covering should not be routinely asked to provide any written evidence of this. Written evidence includes exemption cards.
There is more useful guidance about this on the National Autism Society (NAS) website (opens a new window)
This video below about the "new normal" is from Reaching Families.
This video has been published by the East London NHS Foundation Trust
Other useful links
National Autistic Society – guidance and helpline for parents, young people and staff
Professor Nicola Martin at London South Bank University has produced some ideas for autistic pupils and students and their parents/carers during Coronavirus (Covid-19) which can be found here.
Mencap - Easy Read guide to Coronavirus
Place2Be – Guide to helping parents answer questions from their children and to support family wellbeing
Young Minds - Talking to your child about Coronavirus and 10 tips from their Parents Helpline to support family wellbeing
Carers UK - Guidance for carers
Council for Disabled Children (CDC) - Covid 19 resources and information
Information from the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) for families and professionals about coronavirus and support for deaf children.
Families (links to NDCS website)
Professionals (links to NDCS website)
Beyond Words - wordless stories
Beating the Virus
This short wordless story will help people to understand what to do if you have Coronavirus and how to keep yourself and those who you care about safe. The story also shows how to safely help others who may be self-isolating.Download here: https://booksbeyondwords.co.uk/downloads-shop/beating-the-virus
Good Days and Bad Days During Lockdown
This wordless booklet is made up of scenes from existing Beyond Words stories looking at what makes a ‘good day’ and what makes a ‘bad day’. Scenes address social distancing, lockdown, mental health and daily routines.
Download here: https://booksbeyondwords.co.uk/downloads-shop/good-days-bad-days
Guides for families and carersJack Plans Ahead for Coronavirus: a guide for family and carers
We know that if symptoms are severe then some people will be going into hospital, and this will be very frightening. This guide helps families and carers through the difficult conversations about planning end of life care.
Download here: https://booksbeyondwords.co.uk/downloads-shop/jack-plans-ahead-for-coronavirus
When Someone Dies from Coronavirus: a guide for family and carersImages from titles about death and bereavement to create a guide for families and carers to support conversations about how to respond when somebody dies from coronavirus.
Download here: https://booksbeyondwords.co.uk/downloads-shop/when-someone-dies-from-coronavirus
Covibook – an interactive resource designed to support and reassure children aged 7 and under, designed to help children explain and draw the emotions that they might be experiencing during the pandemic (includes resources in different languages)
English language version (opens a pdf)
Public Health England have produced an easy read version of their advice on the coronavirus for places of education. You can download it here
Coronavirus - NHS Easy Read version