• Poster / flyer aimed at children and young people (PDF)
• Guidance for young people (PDF)
• Kooth - free, safe and anonymous online mental health support
• Camden Rise - young people's emotional wellbeing 

Childline has created a new web page with information for children and young people about coronavirus. The page includes information about: 

• what coronavirus is
• where children and young people can find help if they are worried
• coping if they are staying at home
• what to do if they are feeling unwell

Young people can visit these 'Keep calm, stay connected, be safe' web pages.  

Children and young people's mental health charity, Young Minds, has also produced this blog. What to do if you’re anxious about coronavirus

For other advice and support, call our Camden Youth Helpline on 020 7974 6200, Monday to Friday, 12noon to 6pm.

All schools and further education colleges are open for face-to-face learning. They have updated their risk assessments to keep pupils and staff as safe as possible. 

Back to school safely - information for parents and carers 

• Back to school safely: guide for parents - updated, March 2021
• Factsheet for parents on COVID-19 testing in secondary schools and F.E. Colleges - updated March 2021 
• Please note: Since 30 March, anyone who tests positive from a lateral flow device (LFD) rapid test is advised to get a follow-up PCR test to confirm the result 
• NHS guide to testing for parents with children at nurseries, schools and colleges - March 2021 
• COVID-19 absence from school - guide for parents and carers - updated March 2021
• Camden schools to welcome students back safely - Council press release (1/3/21)

Translated leaflets for parents and carers

• Back to school safely: guide for parents - SOMALI
• Factsheet for parents on COVID-19 testing in secondary schools and F.E. Colleges - SOMALI
• Back to school safely: guide for parents - BENGALI
• Factsheet for parents on COVID-19 testing in secondary schools and F.E. Colleges - BENGALI
• Back to school safely: guide for parents - ARABIC
• Factsheet for parents on COVID-19 testing in secondary schools and F.E. Colleges - ARABIC

Early years and childcare services, including children's centres, nurseries and childminders remain open.

Department for Education helpline

Schools, colleges or nurseries can contact the Department for Education coronavirus helpline on 0800 046 8687. Lines are open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm.

Local contact email address for public health advice

Education and childcare staff can also contact our local public health teams via their email inbox. This is monitored 24/7: email your enquiry.
 

GCSEs, A-levels and other qualifications in summer 2021

Students will receive grades awarded and determined by teachers, with pupils only assessed on what they have been taught. The Education Secretary announced this on 25 February 2021.

Teachers will be able to draw on a range of evidence when they decide on grades. This includes questions provided by exam boards, mock exams, coursework, or other work completed as part of a pupil’s course. This might be essays or in-class tests. No algorithm will be used.

Teachers will submit grades to exam boards by 18 June. This allows as much teaching time as possible before teachers make their assessments.

A-level and GCSE results days - 10 and 12 August 2021

Results days for GCSE, A-levels and some vocational qualifications will take place in the week of 9 August 2021. A-level results are due to be awarded on Tuesday, 10 August this year and GCSEs on Thursday, 12 August.

These have been moved forward from the week beginning 23 August. The aim is for these earlier dates to allow more time for appeals to be completed. This means students who need certain grades for their university offer have the best chance of getting a place.

To support teachers in making their judgements, exam boards will provide detailed guidance before the end of the spring term. Find out more here.

More information and support:

• National exam results helpline
• Advice and support - Camden Careers and Connexions service
• Kickstart Scheme - six-month placements for 16 to 24 year olds
• Camden Apprenticeships
• Camden Sixth Forms and Colleges

Your Future

Your Future has been set up in Camden to:

• help make it easier to find the services available
• provide one to one advice
• signpost you to the right support based on your needs. 

If you’re 16 to 24 looking for work or job advice, Your Future is here to help. Find out more and contact us

Find out more about what activities and support is available through our youth centres on the Camden Rise website.

Our Careers and Connexions service is running a virtual drop-in service while their office at the Crowndale Centre remains closed. The virtual drop-in is open by telephone every day, Monday to Friday, from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm. 

You can chat over the phone to a Connexions careers adviser and get advice on training, education, jobs, and apprenticeships. 

• Call 020 7974 7252 or you can email us at connexions@camden.gov.uk

For young people's mental and emotional wellbeing support, visit the Camden Rise website.

For other advice and support, call our Camden Youth Helpline on 020 7974 6200, Monday to Friday, 12noon to 6pm.

After-school and holiday play schemes

The play provision in Camden is run by community and voluntary organisations. These are funded by the Council, to provide after-school clubs and holiday play schemes for children aged four to 12. It includes specialist services for vulnerable children, young people and their families with varying needs.

After-school provision 

Providers are currently following Public Health guidance. They are offering provision to referred vulnerable children and children of critical workers attending their linked schools. They will run on the basis of bubbles of 15. They will keep children from one school together in a single bubble wherever possible. They will only mix children from different schools where absolutely necessary to provide a service. Play providers are in contact with their link schools to confirm each centre’s arrangements.

Holiday play schemes 

• Find out more and see a list of play schemes near you here
• For more activities and support for children and young people in Camden, visit the Camden Rise website

Last year, temporary changes were made to paediatric services in north central London (NCL). This was to ensure patients and families could continue to receive safe and high quality care during the pandemic. 

These changes were always temporary. The NHS in NCL will reopen the children and young people’s accident and emergency departments and general inpatient wards:

• at University College Hospital from 9am on Thursday 8 April 2021
• at the Royal Free Hospital from 9am on Monday 12 April 2021. 

Until these sites reopen, children and young people should continue to access emergency care through alternative hospitals. Options include the southern hub at the Whittington Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and Barnet Hospital. 

If you are unsure where to take a child in need of emergency treatment, visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111. In a life-threatening emergency, dial 999 immediately.