Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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36. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to facilitate school attendance in autumn 2020; if she has considered the difficulties in relation to very young children entering junior infants and their potential lack of understanding of social distancing practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19524/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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On Monday, 27 July, my Department published the report to Government “Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School”.  

This Roadmap set outs how schools will reopen for all students from the end of August and what the operation of our schools will look like and be sustainable in a COVID-19 context.  It has been developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the Roadmap for Society and Business, and follows comprehensive and intensive engagement with education stakeholders including the school management bodies and staff representatives. 

The roadmap sets out in detail how physical distancing can be applied in primary and post primary settings, using the principles outlined in the public health advice. The roadmap recognises that younger children are unlikely to maintain physical distancing indoors. 

I understand that starting primary school in 2020 is likely to generate even greater anticipation, anxiety and excitement than normal for children and their parents/guardians. The impact of experiences during the pandemic may require schools to provide support for children in relation to separation anxiety, independence and language development. Given the well-recognised benefits of play and its role in connecting pre-school and primary school learning experiences, schools are encouraged to provide children in infants and junior classes with opportunities for play. NCCA resources on such provision can be found at:

To ensure children starting in primary school are supported as fully as possible, a wide range of resources and support materials have been prepared and published by both the Department of Education (DE) and the Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration (DCDEI).