The Department for Education has produced new guidance for special schools preparing to bring back all pupils from September.

The new document sets out what is expected of these settings as they plan for their pupils return.

Here is our pick of the five key areas of note for special schools.

1. Phased returns might be necessary for some pupils.

The government guidance for special schools says that many children and young people will have found the coronavirus lockdown exceptionally difficult socially and emotionally.

It says that schools should, therefore, consider any challenging behaviours or social or emotional challenges resulting from the lockdown and offer additional support and phased returns where needed.

2. Staff providing close contact care to pupils won’t need extra PPE

In line with the guidance for all schools, the guidance says that where necessary staff should wear PPE.

However, it says that staff in special school settings who provide “interventions or care involving close contact to children and young people” are not recommended to have additional PPE beyond what they would normally use.

It also says staff delivering these interventions needs to be particularly rigorous about hand washing and respiratory hygiene.

3. School transport should reflect the ‘bubbles’ being used in school

Government guidance for all schools is that where possible pupils should be grouped together on dedicated school transport in a way that reflects the bubbles they are in at school.

This recommendation is also included in the guidance for special schools but it will present a particular challenge for these settings which can have a higher proportion of pupils using dedicated school transport to get in and a school intake over a wider geographic area than many mainstream schools.

4. Use risk assessments and contact parents to plan for pupils’ return

Special schools have already been asked to carry out risk assessments on the impact of partial school closures in March on pupils with education health and care plans.

The government has now said individual risk assessments may prove useful in identifying what support children need to make a successful return to education. Schools have also been told  to ensure they contact parents as part of their planned return in the “spirit of co-production.”

5. EHCP pupils might need their education extending because of disruption

The guidance says that in a small number of individual cases it may be appropriate for a child or young person to extend their current educational provision or have their education health and care plan (EHCP) extended.

In most cases, the Department for Education document suggests this would consist of an individualised programme for a term or half term.