Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 November 2020
474. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the number of visits to schools that have been undertaken by her Department’s inspectorate in each week since schools reopened by county for the purposes of working with and advising schools in implementing the return to work safety protocol for addressing Covid-19 in the workplace and public health advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36276/20]
View answerSince the beginning of September 2020, the Inspectorate has engaged with 2653 schools and centres of education in total for the purposes of advising and supporting schools in a range of areas, including the implementation of public health advice. These engagements included 2539 Inspectorate-led advisory sessions with school principals and 114 school visits to support the safe provision of schooling (SSPS). A breakdown of these engagements by week and by county is available in the attached document. Other inspection work being carried out by the Inspectorate through visits to schools includes Child Protection and Safeguarding Inspections (CPSI), urgent Follow-through inspections and the conclusion of inspections that had been put on hold since schools closed in March.
The advisory sessions with school principals, most of which have been conducted using video-conferencing facilities, have been a key focus of the Inspectorate’s work with schools since the start of the school year. Inspectors have advised and supported schools in a range of areas including the operation of schools, student well-being and teaching and learning. These sessions have also provided valuable information on the successes and challenges experienced by school communities in relation to the safe re-opening of schools. It is intended that all remaining schools will have the opportunity to avail of an advisory session in the coming months.
The school visits supporting the safe provision of schooling (SSPS), which have been carried out on a trial basis, aim to support school leaders as they implement the COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of schools. They also aim to provide an assurance that the COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of schools is being implemented by school authorities. To date, the visits have been trialed in two phases in September and October. The outcomes of these visits have been reported to the Health and Safety Authority and have informed the development of the focus and format of this inspection activity. Findings from the trial visits that have been undertaken are generally positive, with most schools and centres found to be compliant with the checks undertaken. A third phase of trial visits to a larger number of schools is currently underway. In addition, as required by Section 13(8) of the Education Act, 1998, formal consultations are being undertaken with the education partners on the SSPS visits and it is envisaged that following receipt and consideration of written observations from the education partners, that the Minister will approve the Guide to SSPS inspection visits. Visits to further schools will follow.
