Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020
348. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if a secondary school (details supplied) can provide online learning for students not able to attend class in person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31228/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Protection Surveillance Centre and HSE has published guidance in relation to the return to school for at risk groups. The advice confirms that for the vast majority of children, can return to school and it is important for the overall health and wellbeing for children to attend school. This is consistent with public health advice internationally. The guidance is available at the following link.
https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/HSE%20advice%20on%20return%20to%20school.pdf
My Department has published guidance to support schools in making adapted education provision for 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. All other students are expect to attend school except where otherwise directed in accordance with public health advice.
The guidance for post-primary schools on supporting students certified as ‘very high risk’ is available via the following link https://assets.gov.ie/86732/17f3cc49-72ad-4986-98fc-51037d93369e.pdf
The guidance provides that supports will be provided for these 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 students, including 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.
