Question: What should I do if my kids can't attend right now?

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners
section_headers: Attendance of vulnerable children and young people
Attendance of children and young people who have a social worker
section_content: This group includes children and young people in all year groups who have been
assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 including
those who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a
looked after child.
Being at an early years setting, school or college can be an important
lifeline for children who need or have needed a social worker, and this group
also have worse educational outcomes at every stage, which is why it is vital
that they continue to attend educational provision at this time.
These children and young people are expected to attend provision unless
shielding or clinically vulnerable (see the advice set out by Public Health
England on households with possible coronavirus
infection, and shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as
clinically extremely
vulnerable). In circumstances
where a parent or carer does not want to bring their child to an educational
setting, the social worker and educational setting should explore the reasons
for this directly with the parent or carer. These discussions should focus on
the welfare of the child and the benefits of attending educational settings
for this group.
Where these children and young people are already attending nursery, school or
college, educational providers should:

continue to encourage their attendance across all year groups
notify their social worker if they stop attending

Where these children and young people are not attending nursery, school or
college, educational providers should:

notify the child or young person’s social worker
work together with the local authority/social worker to follow up with the parent or carer to explore the reason for absence, discussing their concerns using supporting guidance
work together with the local authority/social worker to strongly encourage the child or young person to attend educational provision, where the social worker agrees that the child or young person’s attendance would be appropriate
consider how to keep in touch with the child or young person, including through the provision of remote education, particularly where the social worker agrees that attendance would not be appropriate


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
This answer goes into significant detail about the steps a vulnerable child should take.
This response explains what should happen if a child IS attending and if a child is NOT attending. It gives a list of 4 things to do if the child cannot attend.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening
section_headers: Questions and answers
Are all children and young people with EHC plans expected to attend?
section_content: Vulnerable children and young people are expected to attend, if it is
appropriate for them (for example where there are no shielding concerns for
the child or young person or their household, and/or following a risk
assessment for children or young people with an EHC plan). This is so they can
access the educational and wellbeing benefits of attending. Vulnerable
children and young people – regardless of year group – who have not been
attending in the recent period are expected to return to nursery, early years,
school or college provision if it is now appropriate for them to do so.
There is further information on attendance outlined in the guidance on
actions for educational and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening
from 1 June 2020.
*[EHC]: education, health and care plan

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
This answer does discuss vulnerable children but needs more information.
This response does not answer the question of what you should do if your child cannot attend. It only says that children are expected to attend and it gives a link to attendance guidelines.

Reviewer ratings:
Could be Improved
Bad

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners
section_headers: Attendance of vulnerable children and young people
Summary of attendance expectations for vulnerable children and young people
section_content: Vulnerable children and young people’s attendance is expected, where it is
appropriate for them (that is, where there are no shielding concerns for the
child or their household, and/or following a risk assessment for children with
an EHC plan) so that they can gain the educational and wellbeing benefits of
attending. Vulnerable children and young people - regardless of year group -
that have not been attending in the recent period are expected to return to
nursery, early years, school or college provision where this would now be
appropriate for them to do so. A brief summary of attendance expectations
across the different groups of vulnerable children and young people is as
follows:

For vulnerable children and young people who have a social worker, attendance is expected unless the child/household is shielding or clinically vulnerable (see the advice set out by Public Health England on households with possible coronavirus infection, and shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as clinically extremely vulnerable).
For vulnerable children and young people who have an education health and care (EHC) plan, attendance is expected where it is determined, following risk assessment, that their needs can be as safely or more safely met in the educational environment.
For vulnerable children and young people who are deemed otherwise vulnerable, at the school, college or local authority discretion, attendance is expected unless the child/household is shielding or clinically vulnerable (see the advice set out by Public Health England on households with possible coronavirus infection, and shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as clinically extremely vulnerable).

For all these groups, educational providers, local authorities, social
workers, parents/carers and other relevant professionals (where applicable)
should work together closely to consider factors, such as the balance of risk,
including health vulnerabilities, family circumstances, risks outside the
home, and the child or young person’s assessed special educational needs,
where relevant. The sections below set out specific considerations that these
partners may wish to consider when determining whether attendance is
appropriate.
Parents will not be penalised if their child does not attend educational
provision. We expect educational providers and other relevant partners to work
with and support the relevant families and pupils to return to school, where
attendance is appropriate.
*[EHC]: education, health and care

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
This answer is great because it is rather comprehensive about the vulnerable.
This response explains that vulnerable children and young people are expected to attend. It gives a few scanarios of why the child shouldn't attend (if child is shielding, etc.), but it does not say what should happen to the child if she/he cannot attend.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Bad