Guidance

Help children with SEND continue their education during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Advice for parents and carers looking after children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 19 April 2020
• Last updated: 16 July 2020 — See all updates

This guidance was withdrawn on 28 August 2020

This guidance applied to the 2020 summer term. You can read the latest guidance for parents about the full return of nurseries, childminders, schools and colleges.

Applies to England

From the beginning of the autumn term, the DfE will expect all pupils, in all year groups, to return to school full-time. Information on what parents and carers need to know about the opening of schools is available.

It is vital for all children to return to school for their educational progress, for their wellbeing and for their wider development.

Staying at home can be more disruptive to the lives and routines of children with special educational needs and disabilities.

No one expects parents to act as teachers or childcare providers, or to provide the activities and feedback that a school or nursery would. Parents and carers should do their best to help and support their children with their learning while they are at home.

If your child usually goes to school but is currently at home, their school should be working to provide them with work and giving them feedback in a format that meets their needs. Contact the school if you are not already in touch.

We have been working with a range of other organisations to create extra resources to help you. See:

• a list of online education resources for children with SEND
• coronavirus educational resources from The Sensory Projects
• SEND-specific resources for learning from home from Tech Ability

We have also worked with other organisations to create information on ways you can help your child learn at home. See:

• advice on supporting children with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) from the Council for Disabled Children
• recommendations on special educational needs from the Education Endowment Foundation

You can also find resources for under 5s from the Early Years Alliance.

Read advice for parents of children in other age groups.

Published 19 April 2020
Last updated 16 July 2020 + show all updates

1. 16 July 2020

   Banner updated with information about pupils returning to school in the autumn term.

2. 19 April 2020

   First published.