Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2020
181. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the lack of teacher-student interaction in circumstances in which remote learning is required due to the Covid-19 pandemic in certain instances; the actions and steps she will take to ensure that there is a national standard to deliver such remote learning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27948/20]
View answerMy Department has published guidance to support schools in making adapted education provision for pupils/students with an underlying medical condition who cannot return to school because they are medically certified as being at very high risk to COVID-19.
The guidance for primary schools on supporting such pupils is available via the following link: https://assets.gov.ie/85746/9ff54b35-352e-4cdb-b93b-68a25ac7c619.pdf
The guidance for post-primary schools on supporting such students is available via the following link: https://assets.gov.ie/86732/17f3cc49-72ad-4986-98fc-51037d93369e.pdf
Overall responsibility for ensuring that pupils/students who are at very high risk to COVID-19 receive appropriate support to engage adequately with learning remains with the school in which they are enrolled.
The guidance provides that supports will be provided for these pupils/students through designated teachers from within the staffing resources of the school. Schools have discretion to manage and redistribute their teaching support resources in order to best meet the learning needs of their pupils/students, including pupils/students at ‘very high risk’ to COVID-19. Facilitating engagement with and among pupils is essential to their learning experience and maintaining their social and emotional development.
Teachers can facilitate this through online interaction, providing feedback on work completed, organising project work that pupils can complete as part of a group and providing learning experiences based on pair work and group work. Early and ongoing two-way communication between the pupil’s school, class teacher, designated teacher where relevant, and the home will be essential to supporting the pupils’ engagement with their learning and their continuous connection with their classmates and school community.
