Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
427. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if special supports are available for parents and students in cases in which a student is required to stay at home for health reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24871/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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. A number of options for facilitating this support are outlined in the above mentioned guidance documents.
Additional 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.
While this guidance applies from the start of the first term of the new school year, it is intended that it will be reviewed by mid-October and updated to reflect any necessary changes.
