Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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305. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the additional supports that have been provided to children of junior and senior infant level to ensure they are supported through remote learning and their social development is protected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2480/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I recognise that the needs of pupils in the infant and junior classes require particular consideration. Schools have been advised that Parents/guardians will require specific guidance on how best to support their children at home, when in a position to do so. It is important that parents are provided with clear information about how the tasks and activities will help their child make progress in their learning.

In particular, these young children will benefit from home learning packs that contain a range of materials to support engaging and fun early literacy and numeracy skill development, specific opportunities for hands-on, active development of early literacy and numeracy skills, opportunities to learn from home using the home environment in an experiential way in subjects such as Social Environmental and Scientific Education (SESE) and the Visual Arts, and opportunities to share samples of learning activities with the class teacher and/or their peers.

Guidance on Remote Learning in a COVID-19 Context for primary schools(DE, October, 2020)outlines how schools should implement remote teaching and learning approaches, when necessary. It advises teachers of infant classes to provide materials to support engaging and fun early literacy and numeracy skill development at home, opportunities for hands-on, active learning and opportunities to share learning with the class teacher and/or their peers. Teachers are required to connect with pupils on a daily basis and provide feedback on pupil progress.

The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) has provided advice on wellbeing and resources to support schools, pupils and parents. This includes resources and supports for primary schools in supporting pupil’s wellbeing in a remote learning context. Advice is also provided to learners of all ages on staying active and connected.

Schools have been provided with €100m funding during 2020 to ensure that all pupils have sufficient access to technology to support remote teaching and learning, when needed.

Teachers of infant classes are best placed to make decisions about teaching and learning for their own pupils. They have the curriculum knowledge, the contextual knowledge of the pupils’ families and a deep understanding of their pupils’ needs. The Professional Development Service for Teachers has provided of resources to support teachers in this regard during periods of remote teaching and learning.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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306. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to make up the three days of lost schooling that were added on to the end of the most recent school holiday; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2490/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Government decision, taken on 30 December, on foot of public health advice to reduce mobility in the community, was to extend school holidays by 3 days.

My Department is acutely aware of the disruption caused to pupils/students as a result of school closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The public health restrictions which resulted in the closure of schools in March 2020 highlighted the absolute necessity for schools to be agile in providing for continuity of schooling in the future. As a contingency measure against the possibility of partial or full school closures, my Department has already provided a suite of guidance materials, agreed with the education partners, to enable schools to facilitate the continuity of learning for all pupils/students in a Covid-19 context. These are available at www.gov.ie/backtoschool.

The Department’s ongoing engagement with public health and partners at the present time is focussing on the safe return of pupils and students to school and supporting the provision of remote learning at this time.

Engagement with all stakeholders will set out a pathway for the return of all children at all levels of schooling at the start of February; subject of course to Government and public health consideration of what constitutes the safe movement of people at that point.