Vicky Ford, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, wrote an open letter to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), their families and carers and those who work to support them.

The letter provides advice and guidance on several issues, including:

  • Return to school
  • Behaviour policies
  • Risk assessments
  • Face coverings
  • Specialist and visiting practitioners
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Aerosol generating procedures
  • Hospital schools

You can read the letter using our screen reader below (please toggle viewing settings using the buttons provided) or download the document to your device for later viewing.

You can also read about the letter on Contact’s website, which also contains back-to-school information, support and advice, as well as a special back-to-school Facebook Q&A session.

We also recently published a letter from Manchester City Council regarding the new academic year. That letter included a Q&A that’s more locally relevant.

If you or your child have concerns about the return to school, why not check out the Back to School resources that Manchester partners from Health and Education produced for the benefit of SEND families? There are packs for parents, for children and for young people, which are specifically designed for the intended audience.