To take my SEN child to the beach?

[coronaandtired]

DS is 7 and autistic and we live ten minutes from the beach. He is struggling greatly with being made to stay at home and is used to going out to the beach park etc every day. He also has sensory needs and obviously the beach provides a lot of input.

I'm not sure what the guidance is for SEN kids or if they are exempt from the 'only go out for exercise or to buy meds/food' rule. I wouldn't take DS unless I knew they were exempt, so don't think I'm going to just load him into my car and drive down there!

Just wondering if anyone has heard of a relaxation of the rules in this regard?

We live within walking distance of the beach, police are fine if you're walking, cycling, running etc, but they are moving on people who stop and all local carparking has been suspended, it's our closest open space for walking, we went this evening and it was deserted other than a few dog walkers and cyclists

You can drive short distances (within your local area) to get exercise - this was clarified last week.

So by all means go to the beach - you're well within your rights to go as part of your one trip to get exercise each day.

We live 10 minutes from lovely beaches if we drive (so about 7/8 miles). All the car parks have been closed to stop people.driving.to the beach.

Absolutely ok if you are walking (10 minutes walk is ideal) but no way if driving - no exceptions

There is a.loophole in that you are not legally.prevented from driving for exercise if it is local.

Says who? And what does 'local' mean? My understanding is NO exceptions.

If you only lives few minutes walk then it’s probably fine.
SEN children, though, do not have better rights to exercising . The rules apply to all.

I don't understand the problem. You are allowed to go for a walk.

If it's ten minutes then you go, you walk, you walk back home?

the message is STAY AT HOME

You're still allowed out to exercise daily! If you live near to a beach, then you can still go there.

The government has criticised some police forces for being too strict and closing too many green/open spaces.

No, you're not exempt. I live near a beach and car parks are all closed and police presence high, you will be questioned and probably fined if you go there by car, if you can walk there, you dont need to ask.

You'll need proof of where you live to prove you live very close to the beach, the ten minute walk may mean you're ok, ten minute driving wouldn't be.

Here the police attitude is one of zero tolerance.

I live in one of the areas that were full of tourists a couple of weeks ago. Locals have been complaining because all our parks and other spaces to walk have all been locked leaving only streets unless you're within a couple of streets of a beach. People are being stopped and asked for proof of where they live - I've been walking around with my council tax bill as proof and yes I've needed it.

Of course you can, you can go outside to excerise once a day. Obviously don't sit and picnic on the beach, but you can walk along the beach!

You can drive short distances (within your local area) to get exercise - this was clarified last week

And park where?

The beaches in Ayrshire have closed all the car parks.

@vanillandhoney where is this?

People driving are told to go home unless they're parking there as key workers.

i'm guessing op's kid doesn't want to just walk about , but wants to stop and play, explore etc?

That should be ok too?

You're allowed to drive within your local vicinity in order to go somewhere to exercise, which is what you would be doing.

Speak to your GP, I have two DC with ASD and our GP gave us a fit note type form stating that my DC need to exercise more than once per day for medical reasons. So far I haven't needed to take then out more than once a day as they've been content with a walk and playing in the garden but often when they're building towards a meltdown or are very anxious then a walk in the fresh air can help bring them back down to a calm state.

@sennetti I'm in Cumbria and we've been told we can drive within our local area. Our local beaches are all open as usual, as are the carparks.

@gamerchick I can't speak for the rest of the country but none of our local (free) carparks by the beach are closed. You can still park up and walk/run along the beach if you wish.

Going out for exercise IS allowed, once a day, under the lockdown restrictions. They want us to limit the number of times we go out, to maintain a 2m distance from anyone we meet, and not to meet up with people from other households, in order to suppress the spread of the disease - taking a child to walk to the beach, and run around once there, doesn’t NEED an exception to the guidelines, because it clearly falls within them!

So walk your son to the beach, and enjoy yourselves, @coronaandtired.

@gamerchick sorry, that should say they "aren't closed". They've never been paid carparks so you can use them as you wish, or park on a nearby street and walk.

Can you clarify if you’re planning to walk or drive?

If there were exemptions, and there aren’t, for a reason, the world and her husband would be trying to use them.

You'll need proof of where you live to prove you live very close to the beach, the ten minute walk may mean you're ok, ten minute driving wouldn't be

Dc and I walk along the beach and the attached cycle/walking path most days. Tourist hotspot although very quiet at the moment. Never been asked for proof of my address and nor do I see the need to carry it.

If you can walk there, fine, it’s part of your daily exercise.

I'm not sure what the guidance is for SEN kids

Unless his SEN makes him immune to coronavirus, it's the same as for everyone else.

I'd say it was fine and within the guidelines as the beach is so near your home. Walk in the country fine but not fine to drive miles to get there. Does seem a bit unfair on people in flats in the town though. But those are the rules.