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<p>Supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities
(SEND) and their families is a priority for this government, and their educational,
physical and mental wellbeing remains central to our cross-government response to
the COVID-19 outbreak. That is why education settings have remained open for children
and young people with an education, health and care plan throughout periods of national
lockdown.</p><p>The return to school for all pupils was prioritised due to the significant
and proven impact caused by being out of school, including on wellbeing. The support
schools provide to their pupils as they return to face-to-face education should include
time devoted to supporting wellbeing, which will play a fundamental part in supporting
children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing recovery. The expectations
for schools in this regard are set out clearly in the main Department for Education
guidance to schools, which also signposts further support, available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak</a>.</p><p>We
have worked with our partners, including the Department for Health and Social Care
(DHSC), Health Education England, Public Health England and other key voluntary sector
organisations to deliver the Wellbeing for Education Return programme, which has provided
training and resources to help school staff respond to the wellbeing and mental health
needs of pupils. This £8 million government backed programme provided schools and
colleges all over England with the knowledge and access to resources they need to
support children and young people, teachers and parents.</p><p>The return to school
on 8 March 2021 has been supported with a new £700 million package, which includes
a Recovery Premium for state primary, secondary and special schools to use as they
see best to support disadvantaged students. This will help schools to provide academic
and pastoral support for disadvantaged pupils that has been proven most effective
in helping them recover from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>£200 million
will be available to all secondary schools, including specialist settings, to deliver
face-to-face summer schools. Schools will be able to target provision based on pupils’
needs. The size and shape of the summer schools will be decided by school leaders
who know best what the most effective summer school will look like for their pupils,
allowing them to tailor support for pupils, including those with SEND.</p><p>Additionally,
we have expanded the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which has provided healthy
food and enriching activities to disadvantaged children since 2018. From 2021, the
programme will cover the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays at a cost of
up to £220 million. It will be available to children in every local authority in England,
building on previous programmes and we are working to ensure that the programme is
fully inclusive and accessible for children with SEND.</p><p>Sir Kevan Collins has
been appointed as the Education Recovery Commissioner and is considering how schools
and the system can more effectively target resources and support at pupils in greatest
need. Additionally, Dr Alex George was appointed on 4 February as Youth Mental Health
Ambassador to advise government and raise the profile of mental health education and
wellbeing in schools, colleges and universities. He will use his clinical expertise
and personal experience to champion government’s work on children’s and young people’s
mental health and shape policy on improving support for young people in schools, colleges
and universities.</p><p>In the long term, we remain committed to our joint green paper
delivery programme with DHSC and NHS England, including introducing new mental health
support teams for all schools and colleges, providing training for senior mental health
leads in schools and colleges, and testing approaches to faster access to NHS specialist
support.</p><p>The department will continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak
and its subsequent COVID-19 recovery plans on all pupils, including those with SEND,
to ensure it targets support across the system most effectively.</p>
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