Written answers

Thursday, 25 February 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Covid-19 Pandemic

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the phased reopening of schools will give priority to children with special needs in mainstream classes who have been particularly impacted by the move to online alternatives. [10693/21]

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is conscious of the fact that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at individual, family and societal level and that the effect on children with special educational needs can be even greater.

Building on the return to school in recent weeks of children in special schools and in special classes at primary and post-primary level, the Government has decided on a phased return of students to in-school education.

These further phases have been developed in close collaboration with education stakeholders and follow ongoing engagement with the Department of Health and Public Health, HSE.

The Department of Health and the HSE have reaffirmed that schools in themselves are low risk environments and that a gradual phased reopening can occur at this time. Public health has reviewed the measures put in place to ensure safe operation of schools and is satisfied that these infection prevention and control measures, if rigorously adhered to, will keep the school community safe during this period. They emphasise that all measures must be followed carefully by students, staff and parents.

There will be a period of time between each phase to assess the impact of reopening on aspects of community transmission.

The phased return of students to in-school education and the associated target dates are as follows

- Monday 1 March - the first four class groups at primary level – junior and senior infants, first and second class – and final year Leaving Certificate students will return to in-school provision. This phase will also see a return to full attendance for children in special schools, as well as children in early start pre-school classes and early intervention special classes for children with autism or hearing impairment.

- Monday 15 March - the return to in-school provision of the rest of primary school children – third to sixth class, and fifth year Leaving Certificate students. This date will be reviewed during the period following 1 March.

- Monday 12 April- the return to in-school education of the rest of post-primary students following the Easter – i.e. first to fourth year students.

My Department is anxious to further support those pupils/students with SEN who are unable to return to in-school teaching and learning under these phases.

At Primary level in recognition that not all primary pupils with special education needs will be back in school in this phase

- Schools have been asked to prioritise deployment of their SET resources to facilitate the engagement of those pupils with SEN who are in 3rd to 6th class. This will necessitate further collaboration between the SETs and class teachers to establish current priority learning needs among those pupils.

- The supplementary programme for eligible pupils who are in 3rd to 6th class will be extended by a further two weeks

At Post Primary level in recognition that not all students with special education needs will be back in school in this phase

- The supplementary programme for eligible students who have not yet returned to school will be extended by a further two weeks

My Department acknowledges that a phased re-opening is particularly challenging for many children with special educational needs who have not yet returned to school and their families.

The purpose of managing this cautious phased return is to continue to limit the mobility of the population and curb the spread of the virus.

The safe return and sustained safe re-opening of our schools is a key priority for Government.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.