School guidance for parents and pupils during COVID-19
Support and resources for parents, children and young people
The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for many of us but there is lots of support available. Here we have listed some of the local and national services that you can contact for advice, guidance or support.
Mental health and wellbeing
Advice and support on health and wellbeing in Southwark can be found on Southwark’s public health webpage.
NHS Every Mind Matters provides expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing
Our taking care of your mind webpage also includes links to a range of services such as online and telephone counselling.
You can contact a school nurse or text the ParentLine* service on 07520 631 130.
*The ParentLine number is a text number only. It cannot receive phone calls. This number is confidential and is for use by parents and carers of children at primary schools in Lambeth and Southwark.
Visit the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) webpage for more information about the specialist services provided by the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust.
The Nest is a free and confidential mental wellbeing service for children and young people aged 11 to 25 living in Southwark. They offer preventative and early intervention support through coaching and therapy, either remotely or face to face from their hub on Rye Lane in Peckham. Visit the website for details of how to get in touch.
The NHS Free Your Mind website is easy-to-use and provides a wealth of information, online resources and contact details for support services across South East London.
The Childline website has lots of information and resources to help children and young people cope with changes to their regular schooling, as well as general information related to COVID-19 and what to do about their worries.
Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Our Local Offer page shows what’s available in the borough for children, young people and adults (aged 0 to 25) who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The site also includes specific information about returning to school.
Resources to support learning at home
BBC Bitesize has a new service to support learning at home. It includes:
- a ‘catch-up’ service to help children with some of the key primary Maths and English concepts they may have missed
- a wide-ranging suite of easy-to-find, engaging, learning resources, for children aged 5 to 15, which complement the school curricula
- a service for GCSE and Nationals/Highers students
- regular live lessons, featuring well-known BBC faces and programmes
General information for families
Visit our COVID-19 resources for parents and carers page for advice on:
- talking with children about COVID-19
- healthy eating
- managing emotions
- behaviour and conflict
- the benefit of setting routines for your family during COVID-19
For information related to childcare and other local services available to children, young people and families contact the Family Information Service on 0800 013 0639 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or use the online form.
1st Place, the early year’s charity, has also developed a one-stop-shop of useful links to advice, guidance and activities to support you and your family during the COVID-19 situation.
Information in other languages
Find information and advice in a range of languages.
Page last updated: 03 February 2022
