This page has lots of information to help you during the coronavirus pandemic. Click on each item to go to the relevant information.
Have a look at our Facebook page for other information and ideas: www.facebook.com/bathnesfis
Support for older young people
Please click here for information relating to supporting older young people through the pandemic.
Support for adults
For details of groups and services in B&NES, who have adapted to continue their work in the community, along with new groups and projects which have started in direct response to the current situation, please see the Virtual Hope Guide.
Mental wellbeing and bereavement support for adults, parents/carers and children and young people:
Have a look at our dedicated page on looking after your mental wellbeing and bereavement support during COVID-19:
BBC Bitesize Parent's Toolkit - supporting parents and carers during this pandemic
Safeguarding information
If you are concerned about the safety of a child/ren or adult in B&NES, you will find details about who you can discuss your concerns with on the Safeguarding website.
See, Hear, Respond is a partnership to help children, young people and families cope with the COVID19 crisis. To seek help, click here or call their free helpline on 0800 157 7015.
Returning to school safely.
- Covid-19 Quick Guide for Parents & Carers. Information for parents and carers of children in B&NES on when they need to stay away from their educational setting due to Covid-19
- Returning to Primary school safely - Information for parents
- Returning to Secondary school safely - Information for parents
Children's learning and activities:
-
Coronavirus - a free digital book written and illustrated by Axel Scheffler for primary aged children to explain the current pandemic.
- A Parent’s Guide to Promoting Early Learning and Development at Home (0 - 5 years)
- Roman Baths Learning for Life
- Victoria Art Gallery Learning for Life
- Fashion Museum Learning for Life
- 100 things to do at home
- 30 day lego challenge
- Mindfullness animal colouring
- Online anti-bullying resources for parents
- Playdough recipe
- Things to keep the kids occupied at home
- Websites and worksheets
- ELSA emotional support activities
- The Wildlife Trust outdoor activities
- Cosmic Kids Yoga
- Bath and North East Somerset's Library Facebook page for activities and story times.
- BBC Bitesize home learning tips and activities.
- World Heritage Day - Bath goes digital activities.
- RHS Gardening ideas for young people
For general information about how to support your children through this pandemic, please click here.
Resources for children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities
- Parents' Toolkit SEND - BBC Bitesize
- Explaining COVID and the Vaccine to those with Learning Disabilities and Autism
- Speech and Language support resources.
- Makaton.org.uk have access to lots of free resources including songs, games, skills and stories.
- Bath Rugby Foundations - virtual Hi 5 programme.
- Chatterpacks - A list of free online, boredom busting resources
- Sensory stuck at home - Facebook page.
- Easy read guide for Coronavirus - how to stay safe.
- Guide to Coronovirus for people with Autism.
- Easy read guide - how to wash your hands 'rap'.
- Coronavirus easy read guide from Public Health England - practical information.
- Coronavirus easy read guide from Public Health England - social and emotional information.
- Coronavirus easy read guide from Public Health England - Looking after your feelings and your body
- The Mom Kind have a page with suggestions about how to support a child with additional needs during this time.
- Gympanzees are sharing lots of ideas on their Facebook page for simple at home physical activities for children with disabilities. They also have demo videos on their webpage, here: https://www.gympanzees.org/our-home
- Gympanzees seated exercises
- The University of Bath have launched a free online course for parents/carers of children with autism to help understand their educational needs.
- Access Sport have lots of ideas for children with physical disabilities to keep active at home.
- Bath Area Play Project (BAPP) have some helpful ideas and resources on their website to support children with additional needs.
- Support from the Carers Centre remains available; please click here to find out more.
- Returning to School after Lockdown for a child with Autism - NAS.
The following resources have been shared by the Autism Support Service at Fosse Way School. The full list of the below resources can be found in one document here.
- Social Story - what is Coronavirus and how can I help?
- Social Story - what is a Pandemic?
- Why is my School closed? Social story.
- "Someday" - a story of hope for children.
- Watching details of a pandemic on the TV - what does it mean?
- Autism and coronavirus - 20 tips to support your child.
- ELSA (Emotional LIteracy Support Assistant) have shared an A-Z of calming techniques to reduce anxiety.
- The Girl With The Curly Hair have some online webinars to access for support.
- How to support an Autistic child during the Coronavirus outbreak.
- COVID-19, Autism and uncertainty - You Tube video.
- Mask wearing exemption guidelines for people with additional needs
- Mask exemption cards
General Wellbeing - downloadable apps
For details of the NHS approved apps, visit their website here.
- CALM: App for Mindfulness and Meditation. (Available on iOS, Android & Web)
- ThinkNinja - Child wellbeing App (Available on iOS, Android)
- Breathe2Relax: The relaxation app trains you on the “belly breathing” technique that has proven benefits for your overall mental health. (Available on iOS and Android)
- Stress Check by Azumio: This app takes you on a deep breathing exercise to promote calmness and can bring your heart rate down in five minutes. The app provides instant feedback with breath and pulse monitoring and tracks long-term progress. (Available on Android)
- Happify: The Happify app is a way to make a game of all the positive psychology tricks you know might work, but make you feel kind of silly when you actually do them. You'll start by taking a quick test that assesses the areas of happiness you should work on. Then, you're presented with a few "tracks" that can help get you to your goals. (Available on iOS and Android)
- SAMAPP: APPS FOR ANXIETY: SAM is an application to help you understand and manage anxiety. (Available on iOS and Android)
- PACIFICA: Daily tools for stress, anxiety, and depression alongside a supportive community. Based on cognitive behavioural therapy & mindfulness meditation. (Available on iOS, Android & Web)
- Thrive: Feel Stress Free: When you log in it gives you different tips to help you relieve stress/anxiety. There are tabs for meditation, deep relaxation, self-hypnosis, and more. (Available on iOS and Android)
- BASE: An app designed to help manage stress and anxiety. By learning more about how and why we experience anxiety at different times and in different situations we can be less fearful. (Available on Android)
- Smiling Mind: Trying to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life? This app can help you launch into a regular practice of mindfulness meditations. (Available on iOS and Android)
- Wysa Happiness Chabot: Wysa helps to build emotional resilience by talking to you about your situation. Over 60 psychologists and 10,000 users have provided specific inputs to shape how Wysa helps them. (Available on iOS and Android)
- I love Hue: When you feel like you have no control, this app can help sooth you by creating simple visual harmonies from mosaic tiles. (Available on iOS and Android)
- Anxious Minds: Anxious minds are a charity that was set up by sufferers of anxiety and depression, to provide free support to all suffers of anxiety and depression. (Available on Android)
- Worry Watch: This journaling tool has a simple user interface where users can log instances of worry, fear, and anxiety. They can also add the outcome of each situation, which provides a comparison between expectation and reality that helps reduce anxiety over time. (Available on iOS)
- What’s Up? Anxiety App: This app uses CBT and ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy) methods to help you cope with Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Stress and more. (Available on iOS and Android)
- WELLMIND: WellMind is your free NHS mental health and wellbeing app designed to help you with stress, anxiety and depression. The app includes advice, tips and tools to improve your mental health and boost your wellbeing. (Available on iOS and Android)
- Cove: Free, personal music journal to help you with your emotional and mental health. Trusted by the NHS. (Available on iOS)
- Reflectly: A personal journal and diary driven by AI to enable you to deal with negative thoughts, make positivity louder and to teach you about the science of well-being. (Available on iOS and Android)
- Happy not perfect: Backed by science, designed for you, Happy Not Perfect is your go-to place for everything you need to look after your mind in a fun new way. (Available on iOS and Android)
Other information
Each school will operate their individual policies and procedures in line with Government guidance, and your child's school/college will be in touch directly. If you have any specific queries or concerns you should contact your school as soon as possible to discuss these. Below are some online resources to help support your child through their next transition.
- National Lockdown guidance.
- NHS guidance on Coronavirus (December 2020)
- Returning to School/College after Lockdown - Mental Health Foundation.
- Tips for parent/carers to support your child's return to school after lockdown - Mental Health Foundation.
- Supporting your child's emotional needs and addressing their concerns about returning to school - NSPCC.
- Back to school after Coronavirus - ELSA Support.
- Coming to terms with school changes linked to Coronavirus - a guide for year 6 pupils
- Coming to terms with school changes links to Coronavirus - a guide for year 11 pupils.
- Supporting children and young people with worries about COVID-19
- Advice for parents/carers - Help for parents and carers supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people affected by Covid19.
- Information to help explain COVID-19 to people with autism.
- Children's guide to the Coronavirus
- Downloadable book for children and young people about the Coronavirus.
- FACE COVID eBook - How to respond effectively to the Corona crisis.
- Supporting Adults with additional needs to understand Coronavirus.
- Coronavirus and young babies; what to look out for.
- Future Bright offers FREE career coaching, training and support to help you develop the skills and confidence you need to take your next step in your career.
- WellChild is offering a support to vulnetrable families to access vital services and supplies.
- Keeping in touch with someone who is ill and whom you can't visit.
- Advice on Coronavirus in different languages - YouTube.
Here are some Factsheets to help you keep well
Factsheet 2: Keeping Connected
Factsheet 3: Understanding Resilience
Factsheet 4: A Nurturing Environment
Factsheet 5: Understanding Emotions and Healthy Relationships
Understanding the Coronavirus vaccines - easy read
Additional support, activities and service details.
- Bath and North East Somerset Council also has lots of information on their website for residents, have a look here.
- The following document highlights a range of difference activities, support, services and learning opportunities whilst we are home bound. The information is sub-sectioned at the bottom of the document. You can access the document by clicking here.
