Stopping a special needs student from accessing settings when ipad is in guided access

Guided Access should do exactly what you want. It sounds as if Guided Access isn't set up correctly. If Guided Access is enabled, swiping up gets you nothing.

Please note that just turning on Guided Access in Settings>Accessiblity>Guided Access isn't the same thing as starting Guided Access. But that is where you set up the Password that lets you leave Guided Access.

Go to the app you want to use. Triple tap the top button. You'll get to a screen that allows you to make some adjustments. Once you've set everything up, tap "Start" in the upper right. You'll then be in the actual Guided Access screen. Swiping up will not get you anything.

See also:

Use Guided Access with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Strummerfan2 wrote:

For the 12th generation iPad, to start and end guided access, you need to quickly push the power button on the side 3 times (there's no home button on the newer iPads)

I didn't say anything about the Home button. I explained that you need to triple tap the "top" button. That was, if I recall, the specific terminology Apple used on the screen when I was testing this.

How do I keep the sound at the same volume? Under "sounds" in settings, the "lock sound buttons" option is on button, but the volume can still be adjusted with the volume up and volume down buttons on the side of the iPad.

I don't know. You might check to see if that's something you can adjust in ScreenTime.