Mr. Brendan Doody:

It is pretty obvious that moving a system online in one fell swoop causes very significant challenges for schools. In the period between the closure of schools and 16 June, the inspectorate endeavoured to contact as many schools as possible. To date, we have managed to contact approximately 60% of all schools. The idea behind the contact was supportive in the first instance, seeing what schools were doing to meet the needs of learners and seeking to find out the extent of the challenges in those spaces. Then the view was towards repackaging what the schools were telling us about what was working such that we would be able to provide guidance to all schools.

Over the recent period, we have worked with colleagues in other sections of the Department, including those in NEPS, to put several guidance documents into the system. We have provided guidance documents for schools to assist them in their work to support children with special educational needs. That includes separate documents at primary and post-primary levels. We have provided a guidance document to primary and post-primary schools to support them in their work with students who are most at risk of educational disadvantage. We put a guidance document together after being in contact with Youthreach centres. This is a very important sector for young people who are vulnerable and so on. More recently, we have put guidance documents together for schools to support their summer provision.