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Schools & Local Authorities Covid-19 support

Covid-19 support

The SSCE Cymru Network would like to say a huge thank you to Service personnel and their families, who are vital in contributing to the fight against Covid-19.

This page provides information/advice/guidance and signposting to organisations and resources relevant to supporting Service children during the Coronavirus pandemic. The information provided may be beneficial to schools/education settings, local authorities and parents/carers of Service children.

It is not uncommon for Service children to experience regular changes to their family and school lifestyle, which can be at relatively short notice. Service families are adaptable and generally very resilient in times of uncertainty. They also have access to a lot of support from the MOD and charities including the family federations, and through many Armed Forces community networks.

How Service children and families may be affected by Covid-19:

All schools in Wales have been closed until further notice; some will remain open to provide provision for vulnerable learners and children of ‘key workers’
Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilians, contractor and Armed Forces personnel are classed as ‘key workers’, meaning Service children may continue to attend a school setting where necessary
Service children may experience increased or new worries about their parents exposure to Coronavirus while they are supporting the efforts to overcome Covid-19
Separation from parents/carers may be experienced for the first time as regular and reservist Service personnel are mobilised and families establish ways to stay safe while following social distancing guidance
The majority of Service children will be educated at home while the schools are closed by their parents/carers, with remote support and resources provided by school teachers and staff
Schools face the additional challenges of identifying and supporting Service children with emotional needs while communicating remotely.

If you have any suggestions on further details to include on this information page, please contact SSCE@wlga.gov.uk

Education information

Welsh Government

Relevant guidance, written statements and information on specific services is available and regularly updated on the Welsh Government website, including details for specific groups of learners.

Education and childcare: Coronavirus

Education Minister sets out ‘thinking’ on return to schools (15th May)

Education Minister sets out five key principles for schools’ return (28th April)

Written Statement: Eligibility for ongoing provision for children who are vulnerable, or whose parents are critical to the COVID-19 response (20th March)

UK Government

A range of information available for Parents and carers, Teachers and Schools, colleges, and childcare providers.

Coronavirus: Education and childcare

Government launches Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp

Qualifications Wales

See the website for the most up-to-date information, including a series of frequently asked questions and blogs by the Chief Executive and senior staff.

Coronavirus – Covid-19

Consultation on grading for summer 2020

Armed Forces organisations support

Directorate Children and Young People (DCYP)

Important advice and updates for Service parents.

Assignment freeze – impact on school placements

British Army

Home-schooling: handy guide

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

Information about how the trust are supporting grant holders, as well as details on emergency funds available and the launch of a package of programmes to support the Armed Forces Community.

Covid19 response

Naval Families Federation

Information for Royal Navy and Royal Marines families during the coronavirus outbreak.

Covid-19 updates

Working Away From Home: COVID-19 Resource

Useful Resources/ Fun Activities To Do At Home

Army Families Federation (AFF)

Information for Army families during the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus: education support

COVID-19: Chief of Defence People’s letter to families

RAF Families Federation

Information for RAF families during the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus: education support

COVID-19 advice for parents with children in UK Boarding Schools

Royal Caledonian Education Trust

How to Support Armed Forces Young People during the Coronavirus

Little Troopers

Blog: Being a military family through Covid-19

APRIL: Month of the Military child

Reading Force

Keeping forces families close and connected through shared stories.

Making Generation R

The Making Generation R programme supports injured veterans to take their inspiring stories about overcoming adversity into schools across the UK. Over 70,000 young people have already experienced a Making Generation R workshop in person, with a Blesma Member visiting their school and sharing their incredible story of Resilience. BLESMA are continuing running this programme in the form of a free digital Resilience Resource available for all secondary schools in the U.K.

Digital resilience resources for schools

Mental health and wellbeing support

Books to help explain Covid-19 to children

Coronavirus: A book for children By Nosy Crow Blog

‘What’s going on?' By Clare Shaw

Families Tackling Tough Times Together

Families Tackling Tough Times Together is a new Facebook group and community of support helping families to strengthen their resilience while they cope with a multitude of challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. Every week, new materials and activities that focus on a specific aspect of resilience will be released. Families with children, youth, young adults and older adults will find materials tailored for them. All are welcome; especially Armed Forces families.

This program is led by Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences with contributions from partners at Purdue and across the country.

Families Tackling Tough Times Together Facebook group

Purdue University: Press release

Mentally Healthy Schools

Responding to the coronavirus: resources for mental health and wellbeing

Coronavirus: Resources for mental health and wellbeing toolkits

Place2be

Improving children’s mental health.

Coronavirus: updates, advice and support

Children’s commissioner for Wales

Information for children, young people, and families in Wales.

Coronavirus – Information Hub for Families and Children

Children in Wales

Wellbeing during Coronavirus

Save the children

Creative play: Keeping kids entertained during lockdown

CAMHS resources

Here are some resources designed to help Young people and families cope with stress and uncertainty at this time.

CAMHS resources: Coronavirus

Home-schooling information

P.E. with Joe

Join Joe every day for a home workout aimed at kids.

BBC Bitesize

Including fun lessons, activities, videos and more.

Dinolingo

Dysgu Cymraeg am plant

Duolingo

Learn Welsh for free

Maths Factor

Created by Carol Vorderman to teach children Maths.

Classroom secrets

Home learning packs.

Classroom secrets

Virtual tours of museums and zoos

Best virtual tours

Service children’s quotes

"As soon as we get used to a house, you get moved - I’ve been to four schools and moved six times."

Aiden

"I lived in Nepal, then we went to Brunei, then Malaysia."

Ashim

"In my eyes you have hundreds of friends in different places."

Chloe

"I’m used to moving now and mixing with the children... I’ve done it so many times it’s just a normal thing now."

Chloe

"It's ok talking over skype and that but sometimes you just want a hug when Dad is away."

Georgia

"I’ve enjoyed going around to lots of places around the world, its adventurous and exciting."

Harry

"In my eyes you have hundreds of friends in different places."

Ieuan

"My mum got a chalk board and it says how many sleeps on it with chalk, every minute it’s getting closer for him coming home."

Mia

"I don’t want him to get promoted... I want him to get promoted but I don’t want to leave."

Oliver

"I might be going to boarding school so that I don’t change schools every few years."

Ryan

"I've been to seven different schools; I’ve not stayed put in one school long enough."

Shana

"He has been away for six months and he is back for two weeks, then he goes away again."

Sianed

"My parents were in the Army. My mum is a like a nurse and my dad went to the war in Afghanistan. I actually didn’t really know what he was doing so I was like, ‘Cool Dad, go there’, but then I found out and thought, 'Thank God he came back alive.'"

Sanjog

"He signed off last week, so he will be done by the end of this year. He’s done 24 years. I find that better because he will be around a lot. He likes watching us playing rugby, so he will get to see us more."

Lewis

"I’m going to a new place entirely. They don’t know anything about me and that’s a big restart and that’s really good for me."

Piaras

"I moved to Wales because my dad was posted in the Army. I thought I would get bullied and I was shy when you meet new people, but I made some friends."

Dan

Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)
Local Government House Drake Walk
Cardiff
CF10 4LG

T: +44 (0)29 2046 8616

SSCE@wlga.gov.uk