Ms Áine Lynch:

We have had very recent discussions with the Department on this issue, and particularly with the survey we did recently.

Some parents felt their children would need therapeutic supports to manage their anxiety around returning to school. Even if those children do not all need therapeutic supports, it is clear that supports from external agencies will be vital. It is very easy to say that schools need to support children's mental health, well-being and emotional needs when they return, but we must ensure schools are supported in doing that. They do not normally play that role with abnormal anxieties. It is really important that the National Educational Psychological Service offers additional therapeutic supports to schools that are having particular difficulties with children re-engaging and reconnecting with school.