Tuesday 28th July 2020
All schools to reopen at the end of August
CFI welcomes the publication yesterday, 27th of July, of the Government’s “Roadmap for the Full Return to Schools” .
The roadmap outlines how schools will reopen for all students from the end of August, what the operation of schools will look like and how it will be sustained in the context of COVID-19.
Will schools reopen normally in late August/September?
The Government has published a major financial package to help schools reopen fully in the autumn for all pupils on a full-time basis. Schools won’t reopen ‘normally’, however.
There will be physical distancing rules in place, class bubbles – where a class group limits contact with others – and a range of new safety rules for children and parents. The arrangements have received guarded support from most of the main interests involved in education Ireland though everyone acknowledges the timescale for implementation is tight.
So, will all pupils be able to attend school?
The plan is to reopen schools fully without relying on distance learning, as long as COVID-19 remains suppressed. However, if a school has to close in the event of an outbreak, schools will be expected to maintain continuity of learning, as they did when they closed last March.
What’s in the Government’s school reopening plan?
The multimillion-euro package includes extra funding for substitution cover along with enhancing cleaning and hygiene routines
In addition, there will be detailed guidelines for schools with templates on safe classroom layouts, along with rules to follow in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak. There will also be grants to fund structural alterations to classrooms and improve bathrooms for hand-washing.
What are the specifics of the Roadmap?
The Roadmap has been informed by the Public Health Advice provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and outlines the measures and changes to be implemented in Schools to reduce the risk posed by COVID-19. These measures aim to:
1) Minimise the risk of introduction of COVID-19 into the school community; and
2) Manage the risk of spread if introduced through:
- Regular hand hygiene
- Maintaining physical distancing
- Application of respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette and
- Environmental hygiene
A significant funding package of €375m will be provided to support schools with the safe reopening. Full details are provided within the Roadmap however an overview of the plans and measures can be found below.
Supporting and Promoting Good Hand Hygiene
Schools will be provided with hand sanitiser dispensers, an ongoing supply of sanitiser and supports to upgrade handwashing facilities. They will have access to training on when and how to wash hands properly; posters to promote hand hygiene and access to hygiene products and consumables.
Enhanced Cleaning Regimes
Enhanced Cleaning Regimes in our Schools
The government will provide €52m for enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures in schools. Funding will be provided on a per-pupil basis and is intended to provide four to six hours of cleaning per day in schools.
Schools will also receive Personal Protective Equipment where required.
Maintaining Physical Distancing
Each school setting is different in terms of location, physical layout, available space and student numbers. Each school will decide on the appropriate reconfigurations/ operational changes necessary to maintain physical distancing.
Based on public health advice there will be no social distancing for children in the first four years of school (Junior infants to Second class inclusive). All other pupils are expected to adhere to one-meter distancing.
In primary schools, each class will be considered a “bubble”. Within each bubble will be a series of smaller pods where children will work together continuously with a meter distance between each pod and also between children within a pod whenever possible.
At second level, there will be one-metre distancing between all pupils.
Illustrated suggested classroom layouts for both primary and secondary schools can be found by clicking on the links below:
Primary School
Secondary School
Use of Face Coverings/ Masks
Use of Face Coverings/ Masks within Schools
The use of face coverings/masks by students is not advised in primary schools.
In post primary schools, the use of face coverings/masks by students may be a feature where:
- The student themselves wishes to wear a face covering in circumstances where physical distancing is difficult to maintain within the school; and/or
- In the exceptional circumstances where physical distancing by organisational means for a larger class proves not to be possible.
Additional Supports Available to Schools
€53m has been allocated to provide an additional 1080 teaching posts in secondary schools. This includes 120 guidance posts to support student well-being.
Additional funding of €84.7m is being provided to allow schools to employ replacement teaching staff, SNAs and administrative staff.
Funding will be provided to support the additional supervision of students.
€4.2 million will be provided to enable schools to employ an aide to implement logistical changes needed in schools.
Additional funding to support release time of staff was also announced. This will support the lead worker representative whose role it is to support the school to manage the risk of infection related to COVID-19.
Getting Children Safely to School
Arrangements to Get Children Safely to our Schools
Funding of €11m will be provided for changes to school buses to ensure the safety of children using them. Students will be asked to sit next to siblings where appropriate.
Students in Secondary schools are to wear face coverings on school busses (medical exemptions will be supported). They will use hand sanitisers boarding the bus and will be asked to sit next to the same sibling or student during each journey.
A €75m capital allocation was announced to prepare buildings and classrooms for reopening including the reconfiguration of classrooms or refurbishment of toilet facilities.
The Wellbeing of School Communities
Supporting the Wellbeing of School Communities
The wellbeing of students and staff within the school communities is a fundamental element of the Roadmap, a package of supports and resources is available to assist schools in this regard.
Provisions for High Risk Staff and Students
Provision for Very High Risk Staff and Students and arrangements in the event of school closure in the future
The document outlines an alternative provision approach which may be necessary in cases where a pupil cannot attend school for health reasons related to COVID, including pupils at very high risk of COVID-19. Each individual school will have the responsibility to ensure these pupils receive appropriate support to engage adequately with learning. Additional supports will be provided for these students through designated teachers from within the staffing resources of the school. The Roadmap calls for good communication to support these pupils and ensure their ongoing connection with their classmates and the school community
How can CFI help?
Our first commitment is to keep you informed as best we can and to reflect back your concerns. We know this is an anxious time and there is need to ensure the following:
- Students with an underlying health condition are as safe as possible in school and school environs
- Students with an underlying health condition do not miss out on education
Can children with CF return to school?
While there is no specific guidance yet for children living with CF returning to school, the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland published COVID advice for medically vulnerable children.
CFI will highlight any further guidance as it becomes available. If you have any specific concerns about your child you should contact your CF team.
Where should I go to get further information?
In the first instance you should contact your child’s school to discuss the precautions and measures that the school will be implementing. Each school will be in a position to advise you of the specific measures they will have in place. If you have any medical queries around your child’s return to school please contact your CF team.
For further information and support please contact Samantha Byrne, Member Services Senior Coordinator, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. sbyrne@cfireland.ie
