Coronavirus: Isolation advice for children's homes and special schools

The guidance comes amid the closure of schools across the UK for most children except those of key workers and vulnerable children, including those in social care or classed as “in need” and children with education, health and care plans.

The government advice states that all residential special schools, children’s homes and other settings, including university halls of residence, covered by the advice are classed as “households” and should adhere to household self-isolation policies.

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This means that anyone showing symptoms of coronavirus, also known as Covid19, including a new, persistent cough and fever should self-isolate for seven days. Those living with the person should self-isolate for 14 days.

However, “if social workers or police need to visit and investigate child protection concerns, such professionals should be admitted to the home while observing appropriate infection control procedures", the guidance on children’s social care states.

It adds that if a child in a residential care home develops symptoms of coronavirus:

• staff can continue to enter and leave the home as required – however, consistent staff rotas should be used where possible and staff should follow infection control procedures
• other residents in the home should remain in isolation and not attend any off-site school for 14 days, following the guidance for households.

Residential special schools and colleges

Residential special schools and colleges, along with local authorities, should “assess the risk, both for the individual institution and for the individual pupil/student, in deciding how to apply [official] guidance most effectively", DfE states.

Settings must “maintain safe staff ratios” for pupils whose needs mean they would be safer remaining at the school than returning home.

Schools are advised to work with local authorities to deploy staff from mainstream schools or special educational settings that will not remain open to balance ratios where possible.

“Staffing should be prioritised towards the most vulnerable pupils and students, particularly those in residential provision. Where settings cannot remain open safely, they should aim to make closures temporary and reopen once they have drafted in additional staff,” guidance states.

Staff should also liaise with parents over whether pupils will be safer isolating at school or at home before somebody at the setting presents with symptoms.

Decisions on where best to self-isolate should be made based on individual risk assessments. 

“It is expected that the majority of pupils and students will benefit more from self-isolating at their setting, so that their usual support can continue,” guidance states.

However, those who do return home should continue to receive the necessary therapy and support, and the decision should be reported to the child’s local authority.

Families of those returning home must self-isolate for 14 days.

Children classed as high-risk, including those with chronic illnesses, may return home for holiday periods and return to settings when necessary, DfE guidance states.

However, if a child has returned home and has developed symptoms of coronavirus or come into contact with someone who has, they should remain at home in line with Public Health England guidance.

“Should a child or young person return to their family home, this should not be considered an unauthorised absence, assuming they return after the self-isolation ends,” guidance adds.