Dealing with COVID-19

Coronavirus -(COVID-19)- Guidance

Further support and advice can be sought by visiting the following website:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): UK government response

For individuals who are symptomatic and/or test positive for coronavirus please follow the latest NHS
guidance, which can be found at:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

For guidance on responding to coronavirus in children , please follow the link:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/

slowing the spread of coronavirus

Make sure you and your children follow these general principles to prevent spreading any respiratory virus:

Wash your hands often – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or an alcohol-based sanitiser if soap and water aren’t available
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
If you feel unwell, stay at home and don’t attend work or school

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home

If you’re worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111

Bereavement

Sadly, there are many of us experiencing loss due to COVID-19 and this includes our children.

We have connected with two organisations, the Childhood Bereavement Network (CBN) and Cruse, to find ways to support families during this difficult time.

There are many ways we can support children and families dealing with bereavement. We can signpost to specific charities (see below), we can share resources and we can offer support and guidance by phone, email and, once school returns, in person.

There is a parent page from CBN which holds lots of information as well as the resources and charities listed below and can be found here.

Resources

Winston's Wish have produced a great set of resources to support families at home.

See resource for speaking to children about serious illness through COVID-19 here.
See resource for telling children someone has died through COVID-19 here.
See resource for speaking to children who are bereaved through COVID-19 here.

Cruse have a wealth of resources on their website relating to grief and loss which can be found here. For those with slightly older children, Cruse's youth website Hope Again has some really good and age appropriate resources here.

Grief Encounter also have a range of resources which are really helpful, including how to say goodbye when you can't attend a funeral. These resources can be found here.