Coronavirus daily update: Thursday 9 July
Fiona Simpson
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Holiday clubs in Leicester will not open in line with the rest of England amid a local lockdown in the area, the Department for Education has said.
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Each day, CYP Now will summarise the key issues affecting the children and families sector as it tackles the effects of the pandemic. The daily update signposts children’s services practitioners and leaders to the latest developments, expert views, advice and resources.
Leicester holiday clubs ‘will not reopen’
New government guidance states that out of school clubs, including holiday clubs and breakfast clubs, should “only open to priority children”.
The guidance, which comes amid a local lockdown in Leicester following a surge of cases, states that only Ofsted registered settings can operate indoors for vulnerable children and those of key workers.
“Out of school settings and holiday clubs that are not Ofsted registered should only operate where they can safely offer provision outside, in a group of up to six people (including staff members), while observing social distancing guidelines,” it states.
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Out of school and holiday clubs to resume from 4 July
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Leicester lockdown: Concern over 'negative' impact of tightened restrictions on young people
More children on with EHC plans attending schools
A quarter of children with an education, health and care plan are now attending school, latest government figures show.
On 2 July, 25 per cent of all children with an EHC plan were in school, the Department for Education said. This is up from 23 per cent on 25 June.
Overall, just under 1.6m children (16.9 per cent) of all children attended school on 2 July compared with 15.6 per cent on 25 June.
Children’s home providers ‘unlikely to restrain children with Covid-19’
Children’s home providers have expressed concern over changes to legislation allowing Public Health England (PHE) to restrain young people suspected of having Covid-19 to prevent leaving, the Independent Children’s Home Association (ICHA) has said.
Legislation introduced in April allows “children’s homes to enforce a temporary deprivation of liberty where powers under the Coronavirus Act 2020 in relation to isolation are being exercised in respect of a young person who is infectious or suspected of being infectious with coronavirus (COVID-19) to prevent the virus from spreading”.
However, an internal memo sent to members of the ICHA reveals concerns among providers who have branded the rule “inappropriate”.
‘Blended’ approach to therapy could benefit young people, report says
Remote forms of therapeutic support can deliver positive outcomes to young people, improving accessibility for those struggling to access face-to-face services, latest research has found.
A report, published by charity Youth Access, an umbrella organisation for youth advice and counselling services, recommends a “blended” model of mental health support offering remote interventions alongside face-to-face support.
