As part of the Government’s response to coronavirus
(COVID-19), this latest advice is targeted at those
living in a range of different homes including
residential special schools and colleges, residential
children’s homes, state and independent boarding
schools, further education colleges and university
halls of residence.
The publication provides more information on managing
isolation should they or a member of staff begin to
show symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The new advice confirms
that usually children’s homes, special schools and
colleges, other residential Further Education provision
and mainstream boarding schools will be considered as
households under the government’s household isolation
policy. However, institutions will need to decide if
they are single or multiple households depending on
their layout. For example, where there are several
homes spread across different buildings, these can be
treated as multiple households. In halls, households
could be defined as those students living in the same
cluster of flats or on the same floor who share cooking
or washing facilities, or both.
There is also more practical advice for how to manage
issues arising from coronavirus (COVID-19) for those
who care for children and young people with more
serious illnesses or special needs in residential
special schools and colleges.
Children’s Minister said:
There are many children and young people that live in
different kinds of households, whether that be
children’s homes, boarding schools, special schools
or university or college halls of residence. We need
to make sure that everyone knows how to safely
isolate as a household in these challenging times to
ensure we are protecting as many people as possible .
The Department has today issued guidance on how
residential settings should decide what constitutes a
household and how children, young people, staff and
carers can manage safe isolation if they live in an
atypical home.
The new guidance is to support staff and children and
young people cared for in:
- children’s homes
- residential special schools and colleges
- other FE providers with residential accommodation
- mainstream boarding schools
- university or college halls of residence.
