On this page we have brought together a range of useful advice and guidance on how to respond to Covid-19. We are also hosting many virtual events to support you during this time. Take a look at our events page to see the latest webinars.
Please note: These links have been provided from various trusted contacts; but have not been fully reviewed and verified. We have not been paid to promote or recommend these resources over any other resources. These links are our attempt at providing support in one place for our community.
Links to government published resources
UK Government
In the first instance, the UK Government Covid-19 pages are frequently and rapidly updated with advice and guidance in line with advice from Public Health England.
There is specific guidance for educational settings (and guidance for employers, employees and businesses).
Click here to view guidance for educational settings guidance
Click here to view guidance for employers, employees & businesses
Here you’ll find Government Covid-19 Guidance on vulnerable children and young people
Click here to view guidance on vulnerable children and young people
World Health Organisation: Covid-19 and Mental Health
The WHO has recently published considerations to support mental health and wellbeing during the Coronavirus outbreak. This guidance has specific recommendations for health care workers, caretakers of children, caretakers of older adults and people in isolation.
Children's understanding of risk and cause develops as they mature, and is not like that of adults: we need to take this into account, in supporting them to transition back to school
Assemblies - These may have to happen in small groups (perhaps all watching on screen in their classrooms), but it is an important way to give a positive starting message, and encourage a sense of belonging to the school community
Sharing experiences - It is important to help pupils share and reflect on their experiences, to help them consolidate their thinking and be ready to move forward
Worksheets on what has changed for pupils - Consider the child's lockdown experience and what has changed in their lives - home and school
A collective book or pieces of art to capture these changes
Write a newspaper article
The “Tree of Life” in a Community Context by Georgia, Jovia, Kenny, Lucy and Sandra
Click here to view
Make a Covid-19 capsule
Click here to view
Links to resources that may help you communicate with children as well as activities you could try to help children understand the virus.
BBC Newsround
The BBC Newsround site has a comprehensive section on coronavirus with text and video guidance focusing on tips if a child is worried, how to wash your hands, and what self-isolation means.
Click here to visit the Newsround website
YoungMinds UK
The YoungMinds UK advice on what to do if you’re anxious about coronavirus might be more useful for teens and young adults. The main focus is on self-care and they provide further information about how young people can look after their mental health if self-isolating.
Click here to view the YoungMinds UK advice
Click here to view information for young people on looking after their mental health
Mencap (easy read)
Mencap have produced an excellent easy read information sheet about coronavirus. This would be particularly useful for children, young people or adults whose understanding is improved with visuals and when information is given in bitesize chunks. The easy read version covers what coronavirus is, what to do if you think you have it, and how to help stop the spread.
Click here to read Mencap's information sheet
Carol Gray Coronavirus social story
Carol Gray has produced a social story about coronavirus and pandemics. The social story uses large print pictures and provides contextual information about pandemics and viruses in general.
Click here to view the social story
MindHeart Covibook – A story about coronavirus
This excellent MindHeart information and activity book about coronavirus would be an excellent way to open up a conversation about children’s concerns. The book is available in 18 languages (fantastic!) and it encourages children to label their current feelings and offers specific advice on things they can do to stay healthy.
Click here to get the activity book
The Autism Educator – coronavirus social story
Another excellent social story about coronavirus that has a good level of specificity about the effects of social distancing e.g. not being able to go to favourite places.
The social story has been written from an Irish context so references schools being closed – however, UK schools are now closed so is still relevant.
Click here to view social story
Brain Pop Video
This is a great clip for kids, explaining the virus and how to stay healthy.
Division of Educational and Child Psychology (DECP) advice
Earlier this week the DECP released advice on talking to children about coronavirus. There are five simple tips focusing on honesty, openness and validating children’s emotions.
Click here to read their advice
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
The NASP is a professional body for school psychologists in the USA. They have released a parent guide for talking to children about coronavirus. it’s lengthy, but comprehensive.
Click here to read their parent guide
Mind
Mind has an excellent page providing generic advice for everyone about maintaining wellbeing. The page has two distinct sections:
1. Plan for staying at home or indoors
2. Taking care of our mental health and wellbeing
3. The Psychologist Magazine
With an increase in home working and social isolation meaning no travel times, you might have more time on your hands. The Psychologist has compiled contributions that provide a psychological perspective on coronavirus. The page is updated regularly
Click here to view Mind website
Somerset Educational Psychology Service
Somerset EPS has also compiled a number of resources to support talking to children and young people. Of note is their list of books that can help children draw, talk, understand and manage their emotions during these uncertain times.
Click here to view
Southend Educational Psychology Service
Southend EPS, similar to Somerset, have compiled a number of resources to help children, young people, parents/carers and professionals. Of particular note on the Southend EPS webpages is the extensive list of learning, arts and crafts activities for children should they need to be at home.
Click here to visit the Southend Learning Network website
Click here to view blog from EDPSY on coronavirus
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust
Support and guidance for your mental health
Click here to view CWMT Resources
Click here to view CWMT Advice during COVID-19
Anna Freud National Centre for Children & Families
Advice for young people, parents and carers and professional
Click here to view their advice
AC Education
They have developed an exciting program of free videos via their youtube channel
Click here to view their videos
Newspaper article
“Sesame Street has extended it’s ‘Caring For Each Other’ free content to help families cope with Covid-19”
Click here to read article
Resources for teachers, parents, guardians, educational psychologists etc. Resources to help you during isolation, communicate with others as well as helping you and your children cope during this time.
Sample Letter to Parents
A sample letter to parents which gives parents strategies to build resilience and have reassuring conversations with their child(ren). You can use or modify this document to fit your school's needs:
Click here to view sample letter
Survival tips for parents
Survival tips for parents 10 activities you could implement at home
Click here to view the 10 activities
Coping, Resilience & Wellbeing in Uncertain Times: Free Resources
A psychology-informed resource to:
a. support people in coping with the psychological impact/demands of the Coronavirus circumstances, or;
b. to help practitioners in supporting others to cope.
Click here to view resources
Maintaining wellbeing During Coronavirus
A very brief and practical resource that might be helpful to people, either to you or those you are contact with.
It's called 'Maintaining Wellbeing During Coronavirus' and has been written to help families look after themselves during periods of self-isolation, quarantine or lockdown.
It's a short quick-and-accessible, and practical document. The pack is informed by positive psychology, in particular Martin Seligman's PERMA model of wellbeing (Seligman, 2011 - see pack for reference).
Click here to view resource
Helping people to cope
This document ('Helping People to Cope') provides a brief summary of skills and strategies we might use when having helping conversations with others to enhance coping, resilience and wellbeing.
Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is a great mindfulness app/website for the whole family (Age 7+). Smiling Mind could be used as a way to help calm and focus children’s brains and bodies.
Click here to visit website
Cosmic Kids
Yoga and mindfulness for kids ages 3+. This is a great resource and many kids have experience using it in class.
We have seperated the resources into Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Post 16.
120 Digital Resources for Home-Schooling: Special Education, Social and Emotional Learning, and More
The Imagination Tree
Creative art and craft activities for the very youngest.
Cbeebies Radio
Listening activities.
Mystery Science
Free science lessons
The Artful Parent
Good, free art activities
Red Ted Art
Easy arts and crafts for little ones
Sesame Street: Common and Colbie Caillat - "Belly Breathe" with Elmo
Sesame Street: Learn to Belly Breathe with Rosita
Twinkl
A month of free access to parents in the event of self-isolation or school closures (use promo ‘UKTWINKLHELPS’)
BBC Bitesize
Toy Theater
Educational online games
Oxford Owl for Home
Lots of free resources for Primary Education.
Blue Peter Badges
If you have a stamp and a nearby post box.
British Council
Resources for English language learning Primary Level
Geography Games
Geography gaming
Paw Print Badges
Free challenge packs and other downloads. Indoor and outdoor.
Blockly
Learn all about computer programming.
Scratch
Learn all about computer programming.
Ted Ed
A range of engaging educational videos
Duolingo
Learn languages for free.
The Kids Should See This
Wide range of educational videos
National Geographic Kids
Activities and quizzes
Mystery Science
Free science lessons
Crash Course Kids
You Tube videos on many subjects for a younger audience
Crest Awards
Science awards you can complete from home.
Prodigy Maths
Is in U.S. grades, but good for UK Primary age.
Tinkercad
All kinds of making.
Nature Detectives
A lot of these can be done in a garden, or if you can get to a remote forest location!
The Artful Parent
Good, free art activities
Red Ted Art
Easy arts and crafts for little ones
DK Find Out
Activities and quizzes
Twinkl
A month of free access to parents in the event of self-isolation or school closures (use promo ‘UKTWINKLHELPS’)
BBC Bitesize
Big History Project
Specifically for Secondary Education.
Futurelearn
Free to access 100s of courses, only pay to upgrade if you need a certificate in your name (own account from age 14+ but younger learners can use a parent account).
Seneca
For those revising at GCSE or A level. Tons of free revision content. Paid access to higher level material.
British Council
Resources for English language learning Secondary Level
iDEA Awards
Digital enterprise award scheme you can complete online
Blockly
Learn all about computer programming.
Scratch
Learn all about computer programming.
Ted Ed
A range of engaging educational videos
Duolingo
Learn languages for free.
Crash Course
You Tube videos on many subjects
Crest Awards
Science awards you can complete from home.
Tinkercad
All kinds of making.
BBC Bitesize
Seneca
For those revising at GCSE or A level. Tons of free revision content. Paid access to higher level material.
Openlearn
Free taster courses aimed at those considering Open University but everyone can access it. Adult level, but some e.g. nature and environment courses could well be of interest to young people.
iDEA Awards
Digital enterprise award scheme you can complete online
Ted Ed
A range of engaging educational videos
Duolingo
Learn languages for free.