MNHQ here: random but hopefully helpful/diverting lockdown links

Fancy a free design your own Dream House PDF print out?

Bankrate, who developed it, say:

"Design Your Own Dream House pack for children, has been designed as a fun activity for children. They can cut out and customise their dream house - with handy PDFs and printables that are sure to keep young minds occupied during this lockdown period!

"This pack also includes fun add-ons, such as; a Candy Land bumper pack, and an Under the Sea bumper pack, which can be used to make their creation extra-special! Go to Bankrate's website to download yours."

If your children are bored there is a free collaborative storytelling platform for children called Storytag. They say:

"Storytag is a global creative writing platform set up by two advertising executives in their free time, offers a new way for children to collaborate, despite being geographically remote.

"The result of a lockdown project between two advertising colleagues from London, Storytag is bringing children around the world together to collaborate on short stories, from the safety of their homes.

"A play on the children's game "tag", which usually involves running around in a playground or garden, Storytag has taken this idea online instead. "Story starters" are created by adult writers, which are then distributed to anybody registered on the website, to complete the next stage of the five-part story. With 1,000 characters to play with, imaginations can run wild with infinite possibilities for where the plot might end up.

Over 150 people, from 11 different countries, signed up in the first week, Storytag, making it a global initiative. To ensure the suitability of the stories for such a young audience, every entry is reviewed by Storytag moderators before being released on to the next participant. For the same reason, adults will need to sign up on their child's behalf with their own email address. This also allows children and parents to create together. Find out more at Storytag."

Here are details on free tutoring from the Coronavirus Tutoring Initiative. They say:

"The Coronavirus Tutoring Initiative (CTI) has been set up by several Oxbridge students in connection with Access to ensure that no child misses out on their education over the coming months.

"School closures risk increasing the disparity between those young people who can access private tutoring and those who cannot, so we aim to connect university students from across the UK with young people who need free tutoring in any pre-GCSE, GCSE, or A-Level subject. More information, including details of our safeguarding policy and training, can be found here.

"We have 2,000 fully safeguarding trained tutors signed up and ready to teach for free. We believe that the users of your website could benefit enormously from the support."

The government Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) department wants to make sure everyone knows what their rights when it comes to cancellation policies as a result of Covid 19. (This includes weddings and nurseries)

They say:

"We have has launched a programme of work to investigate reports of businesses failing to respect cancellation rights during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

"The CMA has seen increasing numbers of complaints in relation to cancellations and refunds, which now account for 4 out of 5 complaints being received and so far include concerns about businesses refusing refunds or firms pressuring people to accept vouchers for holiday accommodation, which can only be used during a more expensive period.

"Based on the complaints received, the CMA has identified 3 sectors of particular concern:

• weddings and private events
• holiday accommodation
• nurseries and childcare providers.

"As well as examining specific sectors, the CMA has issued a statement on its views on consumer protection law in relation to cancellation policies and refunds."

Here's one to help with your wellbeing from Atrium.

They say:

"We know that you might be struggling right now with your role as mum, worker and all the worries of isolation, job security and concerns about what will happen next.

"We provide parent coaching to support you emotionally and help you cope better with the problems you face. We are early help specialists and have been supporting people to improve their wellbeing for over 20 years so you can feel better sooner.

"Atrium therapists and psychologists are also family practitioners and provide our family coaching services. We are offering FREE online groups to parents who want to attend a session with others, facilitated by our trained practitioners.

"We are also offering a Coronavirus Parenting checklist for every parent through the website. Call us on 01702 332857 to book your group session attendance or [email protected]. Find us on Facebook

"Our best wishes to you and your families at this difficult time
Dr. Sara Ireland, Clinical Lead Atrium Clinic and wellbeing centre."

Here's another resource from the House of Commons Library team:

Free learning resources online

"Available for primary, secondary and post-16, our free online resources include activities, videos, games and downloadable books. They cover topics across the UK curricula, including elections, debating, British Values and the work and role of UK Parliament in our democracy."

Children’s digital library App, Fonetti, has shared its latest book, Our World Needs a Clean, by Nicky Nash - an explanation for children, in story form, of the Coronavirus situation.

They say:
"This story is free of charge and every time the story is read, 10p is donated to NHS charities.

"Author, Nicky Nash, is a primary school teacher who was concerned about how to explain the constraints we are all having to live under, to her young children. She decided to use the platform of storytelling and, having been inspired by a poem sent to her by a friend, set about writing, Our World Needs A Clean."

Hello,

The House of Commons Library and Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology have sent over some materials on household finances, domestic abuse, impact on SEN and other topics during COVID-19 - please see below.

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Coronavirus: Support for household finances

How is Covid-19 affecting household finances and the cost of living? What support is available? Our briefing covers: Employment, finances, food, housing, travel and transport, utility bills, welfare and benefits and more.

Coronavirus: Domestic abuse

This Insight looks at what the new regulations say about staying at home, and how they, alongside coronavirus more generally, could affect people at risk of domestic abuse, and domestic abuse services.

Coronavirus: Impact on special educational needs in England

Examines the impact of school closures on the education of children and young people in England with SEN.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme FAQs

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme offers eligible employers a grant to cover 80% of ‘furloughed’ workers’ wages (up to £2,500 per month). This briefing answers FAQS on who counts as a furloughed worker, how will wages be calculated, and more.

Coronavirus: Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

The Government’s new income support scheme for self-employed people affected by coronavirus will pay cash grants worth 80% of profits up to £2,500 a month, for three months. This impartial briefing looks at who’s eligible and what the response has been.

Recent points of interest: Workers dismissed after 28 Feb can be re-hired and furloughed; foreign nationals are covered by the Scheme; new starters are unlikely to be covered.

Coronavirus: health and social care key issues and sources

What are the key Covid-19 issues facing the NHS and social care services? This briefing covers: Funding, temporary workforce measures, hospital capacity and ventilators, personal protective equipment and testing, vaccine development and more.

Patient health records: Access, sharing and confidentiality

Last month Health Secretary Matt Hancock issued new guidance temporarily allowing NHS England and NHS Improvement to share confidential patient information if it’s for a ‘Covid-19 purpose’. This briefing covers access to patient health records, electronic patient records, NHS data security, and the use of confidential information by the NHS.

Home-based science activity packs for 5-18 year olds from the British Science Association

They say: 'The British Science Association is proud to announce it has created a new library of science-based activities for children to do in line with the national curriculum during the lockdown period. The library, which includes packs of Star and Superstar-level activities for children between five and 11 years old, has been created to help parents support their children with activities that have a focus on science. Among the activities in the pack are projects based on chemistry (cheese-making), chromatography (ink investigations) and physics (bridge-building).

The library also includes a collection of 10-hour activities for children aged 11-18, including making bath bombs, fizzy drinks and uncovering what causes bread to rise.'

The DCMS have advice on keeping your children safe online.

They say,

"You'll find tips and advice around how to stay safe online during lockdown. We're reminding people to stay connected, stay safe online, check the facts and remember to take a break, including useful links for parents and carers with more detailed information about parental controls and how to talk to your children about online safety. "

An online survey from Oxford University's Departments of Experimental Psychology and Psychiatry, tracking child and adolescent mental health over the next few months, to investigate what is helping and to identify what families need

Plus advice from Oxford and Reading universities about parenting children who have worries about COVID-19

They say: 'The study is an online survey that takes parents (of 4-16 year olds) about 15 mins to complete, and then there is an optional linked short survey for adolescents (11-16 years) if they want to and if their parents agree. We feel really strongly that this survey has the potential to make a difference to a lot of families so are really keen to work with influential organisations such as Mumsnet to help spread the word and encourage participation so the study is as helpful as it possibly can be.'

One more....

New, free water safety online course from the Royal Life Saving Society

They say:

"The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has released a short online water safety toolkit which teaches families how to enjoy the water, safely.

"The ‘Lifesaver-Lifechanger’ toolkit, gives people the confidence to keep themselves and others safe around the water by providing instruction on safe land-based rescues. With the current lockdown laws in place, enjoying the home and garden safely is more important than ever and so is staying safe around water especially as our incredible emergency services are under increased pressure at this time.

"Every year across the UK and Ireland, around 700 people lose their lives in water-related incidents, with most of the incidents being completely avoidable. A recent RLSS UK survey indicated that around 43% of people would jump into the water to save somebody, an instinct that is often life-threatening and has led to many further heart-breaking deaths.

"Go to RLSS UK’s website to access the toolkit. For more information contact [email protected] for more information."

This just in....

play.acast.com/s/historiesoftheunexpected

Histories of the Unexpected is already a well established podcast and live show - we explore unexpected topics and have now recording loads of specials:

Scars! - Homeschooling Slavery
Invisibility! - Homeschooling Tudor Spies
Showoffs! - Homeschooling Norman Castles
Accidents! - homeschooling Everyday Life in Tudor England
Slime! - Homeschooling the Industrial Revolution
Scabs! - Homeschooling Tudor Medicine
Darkness! Homeschooling The Blitz and WW2
Names! - Homeschooling the Domesday Book
Stench! - Homeschooling Public Health in Victorian Britain

More to come.

play.acast.com/s/historiesoftheunexpected

A new app, Maths Builders, which has been developed by the Cambridge University engineering department to help GCSE maths students

They say: 'Maths Builders helps learners develop vital problem-solving skills by setting a series of fun challenges built around GCSE-level maths questions. The free app is the brainchild of academics at Cambridge University's Department of Engineering.'