Special Schools and Covid19

[GinJeanie]

Hiya
My 8 year-old DN attends a special school. Fortunately she's not got any serious underlying health needs but I know a lot of the pupils in the school have.
After BJs decision not to close schools on Thursday, where does this leave vulnerable children with complex health needs? He told us that through his plan to use the "herd immunity" strategy, there would be collateral damage. Many of us are terrified (and furious) he's talking about our elderly parents. Indeed, the media is now suggesting that the over-70s stay indoors and self-isolate for the foreseeable.
I haven't seen or heard mention of other vulnerable groups though. Why are special schools with a far higher proportion of immuno-compromised children being lumped in with other schools? Am genuinely confused and very worried.

[Craiglang]

The special school where I work is open and it's business as usual for now. Some of our more vulnerable kids have been kept at home this week but the majority are in. The head can't do anything except follow official advice however they are filly supportive of parents who have withdrawn their children. With staff sickness levels and the new isolation rules announced yesterday we may not make it past the end of the week anyway as we'll be too short staffed to open safely.

[BlessedBeTheFruitCake]

No news if DDs school will be closing but she's been sent home with a big box of activities in preparation.

[Cocolapew]

All the NI special schools aren't closed, only those in Belfast. That decision was taken by their Principals.
There has been nothing from the Education Authority telling us to close.
A lot of parents have choose to keep their children off though.

[BeansOnToast4T]

My son attends a spiral school for pupils with severe learning difficulties and multiple and complex needs. They have just announced the school has closed indefinitely as of today. (Wales)

[Onceuponatimethen]

My nieces ss is closed now - today was the first day of closure

[BlessedBeTheFruitCake]

Haven't heard anything yet, dds taxi doesn't get here until 4ish so will see if there's any letters with her. There was only 3 of the class in today!

[OrangeSamphire]

My son’s special school has announced it is closing until further notice. No cases. For precaution and safety of the children only. Anyone else?

[OrangeSamphire]

One of mine attends a special school for children with physical and medical needs.

We’ve kept him home from today. And his older sister who is in mainstream. With the full support of both head teachers.

I too am surprised at the lack of advice for special schools and medically vulnerable children.

The ‘evidence’ might not show children are at high risk from Covid 19 but do we have any idea how other countries have recorded hospital admissions or deaths for young disabled people? Eg - high fever (such as that caused by Covid 19) triggers my son’s epilepsy. When he has a seizure he stops breathing. It’s always like threatening. How would a fatal seizure be recorded? Especially if he hadn’t been tested before emergency admission?

[Growingboys]

My DC has special needs but isn't immunocompromised so is still going in and I'm fine with that.

Our head has said if parents want to keep their children home she's fine with that too.

I think the Govt advice is right. Not all children at special schools are more vulnerable to it.

[alexasaymyname]

Many complex health needs children I know have been taken out of school by parental choice

[Cinders29]

My son goes to a specialist school. He's classed as being 'vulnerable' so I've taken the decision today to take him out of school for the foreseeable. I really thought school would have
closed my now though - there are so many children there that are at risk.

[OhMsBeliever]

My DS is at a special school and we've been told if our children are vulnerable they can be taken out of school and it will be authorised.

My son has no underlying conditions that would mean he's at risk so he's going to school still, but I know several children that will be off now.

[fivedogstofeed]

In Northern Ireland all the special schools have closed from today. Good decision IMO though no idea if the headteachers have done this against government advice, or some something specific has prompted it.

[Shazzanat]

One of my DC goes to a special school for children with complex needs and I am gobsmacked that the government haven't made special considerations. Mine will not be going in.

[BobGalaxy]

Plus with my DS still going into school, I'm risking contracting and bringing the virus in to my special school.

[BobGalaxy]

Yep I'm a TA in a special school and agree that we should be given special consideration. It would be fatal for many kids at my school if they were to succumb to Coronavirus and of course it would spread rapidly. Pretty sure my head can't close unless instructed to by the government though.

[paradyning]

I called today and spoke to the head. She just towed the party line. I'm withdrawing dc tomorrow.

[EggysMom]

I think it has to be up to the school, and the local authority, whether to close. Not all special schools have children with complex health needs (our son attends an ASD school); so you'd have to get into quite a lengthy description that would invariably confuse and could the message. It is far simpler to allow schools and LA to make those decision themselves, they know the children best.

[user127819]

I'm hoping with the new advice supposed to be coming out for the most vulnerable next Monday, that special schools for the most vulnerable children will close. I think that's too late though.

[DICarter1]

My dd is at a specialist school. Lots of information coming home. Some children have been kept at home as their health is compromised. Not quite sure what happen.

[user127819]

I've been wondering about this too. There are special schools for children with profound and multiple disabilities which are still open, and it's not an exaggeration to say that an outbreak in this schools would be devastating, with multiple deaths. The government, in its assumption that children are not badly affected, seems to be overlooking vulnerable children. Belfast has already closed its special schools from today.