Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures expected of primary and post-primary schools to report attendance and levels of engagement with online learning in the context of level 5 Covid-19 restrictions and the fact that school-based activities are taking place remotely; the role of the Tusla education support service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3068/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. These are available at www.gov.ie/backtoschool.

This documentation has been complemented by Circular 0074/2020 (Communication/Teaching & Learning Platform) which requires all schools to have in place appropriate contingency measures to ensure that they are prepared to continue to support teaching and learning in the event of a partial or full closure of schools arising from Public Health advice.

My Department has also provided updated specific guidance to advise on how schools and teachers can support continuity in the learning of learners with Special Educational Needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage during school closures due to Covid-19. These are available at .

It is crucially important that the learning of all students are supported at this time. Teachers should continue to engage with their students and differentiate teaching and learning in line with their students’ needs to minimise disruption to their learning and progression.

School support for learning is particularly important for those pupils/students who may find engaging with remote learning challenging at this time.

Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) Home School Community Liaison Coordinators, Educational Welfare Officers and School Completion Programme staff are working with students and families identified by schools as needing additional supports. TESS staff are in ongoing contact with school principals. TESS staff are paying particular attention to students who have been previously referred to TESS, students living in direct provision accommodation centres, students temporarily living in refuges for families experiencing domestic violence, students impacted by homelessness and students from the Traveller and Roma communities to assist these students to remain linked to their schools.