Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what enhanced support measures his Department is putting in place for SEN schools and children during the January 2021 covid-19 lockdown.

To support all schools, including special schools, on 7 January 2021 we published guidance on restricting attendance during the January 2021 national lockdown, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak. This guidance also outlines the funding available to support schools at this time.

Further guidance has also been published for special schools, specialist post 16 providers and alternative provision (AP): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/953215/Guidance_for_special_schools__specialist_post-16_providers_and_alternative_provision_during_the_national_lockdown.pdf.

The government is delivering a programme of rapid asymptomatic testing in schools and further education colleges, including special schools and AP settings. Rapidly identifying and containing asymptomatic cases, which comprise up to a third of all cases, will help avoid individuals carrying COVID-19 from unknowingly spreading it.

In recognition of the additional considerations specialist settings will have to take into account when delivering rapid asymptomatic testing, we have published additional guidance which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings/mass-asymptomatic-testing-in-specialist-settings.

To support children with special educational needs and disabilities, the definition of vulnerable children and young people includes children who have a social worker, an education, health and care plan or those who may be vulnerable for another reason at local discretion. Schools are expected to allow and strongly encourage vulnerable children and young people to attend. Parents or carers of vulnerable children and young people are strongly encouraged to send their children to school.