What does the new school guidance mean for my sons schoo?

[windyautumn]

Sorry - I've looked at the guidance but I just get bogged down in it and a bit lost.

Ds goes to a SEN school. He's late primary but school runs to 16 and he shares some things with year 7/8. It's an autism school, no medically vulnerable at all. All ASD, ADHD and a lot of associated SEMH. Most children haven't accessed education at all over the lockdown due to needs although they follow do the NC there normally.

The guidance talks of tiers and that SEN schools 'should' stay open etc but who decides?? Government or school? We have quite a risk averse head who closed a week before the main school closure. Do all secondary years have to wear masks now? Or just in a lockdown area?

DS is desperate to be at school. He was at home for 2 years before this school for last academic year and it's just bloody typical covid is ruining his education even more. I need to prepare him but I don't really understand what the possibilities are.

For context we live in the south west in a very unaffected area and school is small on numbers (8 to a class), big classrooms and lots of outdoor space and sinks etc. It should be pretty safe compared to MS schools.

Masks are only mandatory for "Y7 and above", communal areas in restrictions areas.

Any decisions are made by head in conjunction with local health body, but of course if enough staff are off for whatever reason a school can't function anyway.

I wonder if this might get more answers on the SEN board? I work in a secondary, mainstream, so not much use I'm afraid. Hope you get more responses.

Am sure I've seen a special school teacher saying the guidance indicates "we stay open, no matter what - at least in theory" or words to that effect.

My son goes to a specialist independent college. The students don’t have to wear mask but the staff are. I think it’s only lockdown areas anyway where masks are required, my other two NT kids are seniors and don’t have to .

My sons college (there is a school there too) stayed open for a while but closed in late March, it was on the advice if PHE as a student had symptoms 🙄, later testing negative. Then it on track to open fully in April when two staff members tested positive. They gradually Started bringing the students back in May. It’s residential (term time) so they formed their own bubbles.

It will be open as usual in Sept for all Students, residential and day students. I think they’ll remain open unless PHE advise otherwise if there is a positive case.

Having low numbers of children in the class is key. I think that will make a massive difference to whether a school is likely to close/bubbles close.

Fewer children means more chance of social distancing happening, and in general fewer social links with families which will reduce community transmission too.

Sen schools will stay open in lockdowns. They would only shut because of cases within the school.

That's all. I really hope everyone is right and the school will stay open as long as they're are no cases in the school. I was worried really that the decisions would given to the school to do whatever it felt was best from next week as I think the head is really not keen on opening up.