Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Latest information

The information below has been organised to show the most recent update first.

January update

On 4 January 2021, the Prime Minister announced a new national lockdown. During the lockdown, schools, and colleges should only allow vulnerable children and young people and the children of critical workers to attend. All other school and college children and young people will learn remotely until at least the February half term.

Full guidance on who can attend can be found on the government website: 

• Children of critical workers and vulnerable children who can access schools or educational settings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
• What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges (publishing.service.gov.uk) 

If your child is clinically extremely vulnerable they are advised not to attend school. You can read guidance for shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from coronavirus (COVID-19) for more information. Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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September Update

For information on your child/young persons Return to School, information on what to do if your child is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 and useful resources, please visit our Return to School Page .

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Children and young people to return to school full time in Autumn Term-July Update 

It is the government’s plan that all children and young people, in all year groups, will return to school and college full time from the beginning of the autumn term.

Your child's school or college will  provide more information on what this means and what measures they will have put in place. 

You can read Councillor Julian Bell and Councillor Yvonne Johnson's letter to parents and carers, alongside the flowchart on when your child should attend school (updated 30 July) for more information.  

For parents/carers of children with an EHC Plan, please read the letter for parents/carers of children with an EHC Plan. 

Link to government guidance: What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges in the autumn term 

For useful information and resources to support with your child's return to school,  please visit our Return to School page 

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COVID-19 Update for parents on school openings - June 

The Government is slowly easing lockdown and expects children who are a 'priority', in Reception, Year 1 or Year 6 to be in school. We understand however that many parents are worried about coronavirus. The Ealing Learning Partnership have produced an update for parents which includes the steps schools are taking to assess and reduce risk as they welcome back more children.

View COVID-19 Update 

This information is up to date as of 15 June 2020. 

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Update : reopening of schools and other educational settings 

From 1 June, at the earliest, primary schools in England may be able to welcome back children in key transition years – nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6.

Secondary schools, sixth forms and colleges will also be able to provide some face-to-face support with young people in year 10 and year 12 to help them prepare for exams next year.

You can access more information on the opening of schools and educational settings to more pupils from 1 June for parents and carers 

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The government has announced that from Monday (23 March 2020) UK schools will close until further notice as part of ongoing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

There will be spaces made available where possible for the children of key workers and vulnerable children to remain in school.  Vulnerable children include children who are supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans.

Read our guidance below on accessing school and childcare arrangements for further information. 

Free COVID-19 test for residents without symptoms

Residents can now get a free coronavirus test in Ealing, even if they do not have COVID-19 symptoms. 

To find out more and to book a slot please visit the Ealing Council website: Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Ealing Council

If you have symptoms: 

If you, or anyone in your household, develop symptoms - a new, continuous cough; high temperature; loss or change to your sense of smell or taste - you must all stay at home and self-isolate immediately and the person with symptoms must book a test online on nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. 

We have been made aware of rumours circulating on social media which suggest that, under the Coronavirus Act, school children displaying COVID-19 symptoms can be taken and detained by the state in a government testing centre and held for 14 days, plus tested without parental consent, according to a letter from the Children’s Commissioner. 

Please be aware that these rumours are not true. Screening or assessing a child can only take place in the presence of carer, parent or guardian.  

If your child displays symptoms it is very important that they get a test and that they do not go to school or nursery so that they don’t make any other children unwell. If they become unwell at school, you will be contacted, asked to remove them from school and advised to take them for a test.

For more information please see the flowchart for parents and carers which advises you on what steps to take if your child displays symptoms. 

You can also visit our Return to School page for tips on supporting your child's return to school. 

January update 

Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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If you would like to find a holiday playscheme operating during Christmas please see our list below.

Christmas Holiday Playschemes 2020 (internal link) 

All playschemes can be found on our directory (internal link) 

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On the 1st July government guidance was published  for parents and carers covering changes to after-school clubs, holiday clubs, tuition, community activities and other out-of-school settings for children and young people over the age of 5 during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-of-children-attending-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

If you are a parent/carer who would like to query whether your usual after school club, breakfast club or out of school care setting is currently open, please contact the setting directly.

We have compiled some resources which you may find useful, including how you can speak to children about coronavirus , educational activities and more. Visit our Coronavirus- useful resources page. 

We have compiled all the information we've received about changes to services for children, young people and families during the COVID-19 situation. Visit our Updates to services and support during COVID-19 page.

We have compiled all the information we have on local food banks and food collections points. Visit the Food Banks, Food Distribution Services & Food Bank Collections page for more infomation.

Gov.uk Updates on COVID-19:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Ealing Council Updates (includes information on local testing, government updates and support for residents and businesses) 

https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201262/coronavirus_covid-19  

NHS Updates on COVID-19 including symptoms, self isolation,  testing and tracing: 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19#cev 

Staying Alert and Safe (Social Distancing) Guidance 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing

Travel advice for those travelling and living overseas:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus

Education and Childcare- Guidance for teachers, school leaders, carers, parents and students 

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare

What parents and carers need to know about schools, colleges and other education settings during the coronavirus outbreak

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

Guidance on schools, colleges and local authorities on maintaining educational provision

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision  

Guidance for further education and skills providers on maintaining provision 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision/maintaining-education-and-skills-training-provision-further-education-providers

Guidance for parents and carers covering changes to after-school clubs, holiday clubs, tuition, community activities and other out-of-school settings for children and young people over the age of 5 during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-of-children-attending-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

Face coverings: when to wear one and how to make your own

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

All pages on this directory can be accessed in other languages using the Google Translate option on the top right hand side of this page (this does not include any downloadable attachments).

Doctors of the World have produced information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for patients in 60 languages, which were produced in partnership with the British Red Cross. 

COVID-19 Infographics-  infographics to help summarise key points about COVID-19 in a variety of languages to get the right information in an easy to understand format. Languages availableinclude Punjabi,Somali, Arabic, Polish and more. 

You may also find the information you are looking for on the Ealing Council website, also available in multiple languages