Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:496. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the contingency plans she has put in place in the event of a second lockdown or a localised outbreak of Covid-19. [18713/20]
View answerTuesday, 28 July 2020
Questions (496)
Written answers
Yesterday, 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 provides for the reopening of all schools to all students but each school must be ready for a situation where a school may be faced with closure (in whole or part) for a period during which the curriculum will need to be delivered remotely. This will necessitate an alternative provision approach.
The continuity of teaching and learning during the emergency period was achieved with significant additional effort from all school staff working remotely to ensure students were supported during this time. Most schools put in place arrangements to communicate with students and parents demonstrating innovation and resilience by providing flexible local responses.
The Department is updating its Continuity of Schooling Guidance documents to support schools in responding in an agile way in the event of localised school closure.
Specifically schools will be provided with guidance and support to put in place arrangements to facilitate communication with and between staff, between staff and learners and to facilitate development of online approaches to remote and blended learning in the event that such is required.