COVID-19 Information
Information and Advice
Please view the categories below for some useful documents and web links
to keep you informed and up-to-date.
We will keep this page updated as and when we receive new advice or recommendations.
Official Government Advice and Updates
Latest Government Updates
For all of the latest government guidance, concerning all aspects of Coronovirus and it's implications please visit the official website below:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Advice for families with vulnerable children
- There is specific information for vulnerable young people and their families on the government website https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable
You can register, and will be able to access support for things like getting food deliveries and other essential supplies. - One of our eagle-eyed teachers has noticed that official government advice gives dispensation for families of children with special needs to go outdoors for multiple walks or exercise each day.
For details please see Point 15 (below) from the following article on the gov.uk website.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do#can-i-exercise-more-than-once-a-day-if-i-need-to-due-to-a-significant-health-condition
15. Can I exercise more than once a day if I need to due to a significant health condition?
You can leave your home for medical need. If you (or a person in your care) have a specific health condition that requires you to leave the home to maintain your health - including if that involves travel beyond your local area - then you can do so. This could, for example, include where individuals with learning disabilities or autism require specific exercise in an open space two or three times each day - ideally in line with a care plan agreed with a medical professional.
Even in such cases, in order to reduce the spread of infection and protect those exercising, travel outside of the home should be limited, as close to your local area as possible, and you should remain at least 2 metres apart from anyone who is not a member of your household or a carer at all times.
NHS Advice and Guidance
Keep up to date on offical NHS guidance at:
If you are experiencing symptoms or need medical support please visit www.111.nhs.uk in the first instance. Only telephone 111 if you are not able to get online, you have been instructed to call, or your symptoms worsen.
If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, you can call 18001 111 on a textphone, or access the NHS 111 British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service through www.nhs.uk/111 .
Coronavirus Helpline
The Department for Education coronavirus helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline as follows:
Phone:
0800 046 8687Opening hours:
8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday
If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.
Handwashing Advice
It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.
The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19- information-for-the-public
The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.
Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:
https://e-bug.eu/
Local Support and Advice
Special School Nursing - Support Line
Please note that the Special Schools Nursing Support line has now closed, however the Portesbery Nursing Team are working as normal so if you need any help or advice please telephone 01252 832104.
https://childrenshealthsurrey.nhs.uk/
Information from Surrey County Council
Find all the latest local information at:
www.surreycc.gov.uk/coronavirus
There are lots of links, resources and advice in this document.
Surrey CC have also set up a Community Helpline number: 0300 200 1008 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).
Please note that this is not a medical helpline, it is instead here for two things:
- To help direct residents who need support, such as picking up shopping, prescription collections or having someone who can be a telephone friend.
- To help provide advice on where to register your offer of help to support your community.
Hospital Care Passport
A Hospital Care Passport is recognised in all Surrey hospitals should any child or adult with a learning disability need to be admitted to hospital. It helps to strengthen communication with regards to essential and important elements of care for those caring for that child or young person to know.
Please click here to download the care passport, you can also find it on the Surrey Healt Action website (www.surreyhealthaction.org) if needed.
Should families require any help to fill the passport in, please contact our school nursing team via email at csh.portesbery@nhs.net and one of the team will give you a ring to go through the form with you.
When the passport is complete, please email it to csh.portesbery@nhs.net so that it can be uploaded securely to your child’s electronic health records.
What to do if your child is unwell
Whilst coronavirus is infectious to children it is rarely serious. If your child is unwell it is likely to be a non-coronavirus illness, rather than coronavirus itself.
Whilst it is extremely important to follow Government advice to stay at home during this period, it can be confusing to know what to do when your child is unwell or injured.
Remember that NHS 111, GPs and hospitals are still providing the same care that they have always done.
Click here to download an information sheet.
Advice for claiming Universal Credit
Surrey Welfare Rights have released some useful information with regard to current guidance on claiming Universal Credit:
Click here for details.
Surrey Family Support Services
Surrey Family Support Services have shared some information and advice on a variety of topics. Please see the links below for details:
Health and Wellbeing
Surviving Family Life under Lockdown (Jan 2021)
ParentZone has put together some suggestions for surviving family life in lockdown.
https://parentinfo.org/article/surviving-family-life-under-lockdown
There are also a lot of other resources on the ParentZone website so please have a browse!
Hints and tips when working from home
Our Occupational Health Care providers have shared some useful information regarding best practise for home working, and health and wellbeing support for key workers.
You may also find the information useful so please take a moment to read:
Health and Wellbeing Toolkit - Working from Home
Health and Wellbeing Toolkit - Key Workers
Wellbeing Action Plan - Carers UK
Carers UK (www.carersuk.org) have posted some handy hints on their website to help us to keep calm and protect our mental wellbeing.
Have a look at their Wellbeing Action Plan here, among other things on the website.
Active Surrey
'Active Surrey' have some good advice regarding staying active at home (for all ages):
http://www.activesurrey.com/get-started/active-at-home
Our PE Lead teacher, Amy, is also recommending:
- 'Andy's wild workouts' on BBC iplayer
- 'Jump Start Jonny' live on YouTube!
'How's YOUR Lockdown Been?'
Emma Sharpe, our School Counsellor, has written a really helpful and insightful piece on how we can all deal with and make the most of the lockdown.
You can read it by clicking here.