Wellness /re-introduction to school
- Increased focus on pupil wellbeing and gentle introduction back to school
Signage
- Covid 19 signage is displayed throughout the school building
- 2 Metre social distance signs are painted on paths leading to school
- Directional arrows on corridors.
Hygiene
- Hand sanitisers are at each entrance
- Hand sanitisers are at entrance to each classroom, Set rooms and offices.
- Soap dispensers and paper towels in classrooms.
- Soap dispensers with a mixture of hand driers and and paper towels in bathrooms.
- Hand sanitiser at entrance to Ionad Spraoi and Hall.
- Library is designated Covid isolation area.
- Enhanced cleaning regime.
- Foot pedal bins in all classrooms for tissues/paper towels.
- Emphasis on handwashing and respiratory hygiene.
- Disinfectant cleaning will take place during the day of high frequency touch points.
Classroom layout
- Classrooms are arranged in groups of tables(pods)
- It will not be possible to change the make-up of these pods for a period of time.
- Pods are approx. 1metre from each other and 2metres from teacher. Work space for sna, as recommended in roadmap for re-opening.
- Excess furniture is removed from classrooms thus creating more space.
Class organisation
- Teachers will organise pupils’ learning materials in such a way that each pod has access to their own materials.
- A “wait box” into which reading books are placed after being collected so that books are disinfected.
- Children will not have access to the class or school library. Library books may be divided according to class pods, using the wait system.
- Shared areas such as Seomra Draiochta, Science area will not be in use for now.
- Ventilation in classrooms.
Staff organisation
- Staff are organised in smaller groups- set teacher, class teacher and sna if appropriate. Staff are asked to stay within this small group and limit contact with other staff.
- A 2metre distance must be maintained between staff. Face covering should be used if 2 metre distance cannot be maintained.
- All classrooms are provided with cleaning materials for staff to keep their own work areas clean.
Common areas out of bounds
- Library, Seomra Draiochta will not be available during this time.
Yard/ playtime
- Staggered playtimes with each class playing with own class group. Yards will be temporarily subdivided in to play zones
Arrangement for children coming into school
Asd Pre-school children will enter building via front door as usual
Arrangements for entry and exit are currently being worked on with progress on building ongoing as well as covid secure measures.
Movement within the school
- Pupils are to follow directional arrows.
- Congregation of children on corridors to be discouraged, children encouraged to pass quickly.
- Disinfectant cleaning will take place during the day of high frequency touch points.
Coming to school
- Parents and children are asked to walk to school where possible and to maintain a two metre distance from others. Markings are in place.
- The main aim is dropping off and collecting children safely and to avoid large gatherings of people. Parents are encouraged to wear face coverings at these times also.
Know the symptoms of Covid 19
- High temperature
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of smell, taste or distortion of taste.
- PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL IF THEY HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS OR ARE UNWELL.
Dealing with a suspected case of Covid 19
- The school will adhere to the guidance provided by the DES roadmap to re-opening.
- Staff or pupils should not attend if they are feeling unwell.
- If a pupil displays symptoms of Covid 19, parents are contacted immediately.
- The pupil is brought to the designated isolation area, library, maintaining a 2 metre distance from staff member.
- Parents are asked to collect their child from the library immediately.
- The library/isolation area will be cleaned and disinfected immediately afterwards.
Where a pod/whole class is to be sent deemed close contacts
- Where the school is that children must go home having deemed close contacts, classes along the corridor will leave via the science door. Classes in the pre-fabs will leave via side gate. Weather permitting, children should be outside in the playground as much as possible using the Sr. Infant yard. Staff from the pod stay with the class as much as possible, limiting the contact with numerous adults
All pupils, parents and staff are asked to adhere to the School Covid 19 Response plan.
Training-All staff areasked to view the following training videos
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/dd7fb-induction-training-for-reopening-schools/
February 2021
Summary of required additions to the School’s Covid Response Plan
Appendix 2
Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) guidance on the re-opening of schools
Reopening of Schools January 2021 with initial focus on special schools and special classes
The HPSC has set out detailed advice in respect of the infection prevention and control measures required for the safe and sustainable operation of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This advice, aspects of which have been updated throughout the period since from September 2020 to January 2021 has become the basis of the “School COVID-19 Response Plans”. The schools plans are also based on the guidance provided by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in compliance with the protocols established by Departments of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Health on “Returning to Work” safely. The Department of Education’s ongoing oversight and management of schools during this pandemic is also in line with the Government “Resilience and Recovery: 2020 – 2021: Living with COVID-19 Plan” and the successor to the “Return to Work Safely” protocols entitled “Work Safely”.
Full details of the range of supports and guidance available to schools, staff and students can be found on gov.ie/backtoschool.
General Management of COVID-19 in Schools
All schools have and will update as appropriate their school COVID-19 Response Plan and COVID-19 Policy;
Staff will be reminded to review again the training materials provided by the Department to include knowledge of symptoms, hand and respiratory hygiene, how to manage a suspected COVID-19 case as well as the specific module for SNAs, cleaners and lead workers;
Schools should request staff to confirm that the details in the pre-return to work form remain unchanged following subsequent periods of closure such as school holidays.
Schools should review their Risk Assessment Template and ensure that it continues to comply with the health and safety requirements as set out in the COVID-19 Response plan;
Schools will continue to implement the control measures set out in Part 5 of the School COVID-19 Response plan (as updated) to include minimising the risk of introduction into schools, knowing the symptoms and how to respond if you have those symptoms, respiratory and hand hygiene, physical distancing within the classroom, physical distancing outside the classroom and within the schools, use of PPE as appropriate including face masks;
Schools will pay particular attention to the management of the risk of COVID-19 in relation to school activities such as those associated with art, toys, books, sports equipment etc;
Schools will implement the cleaning and hygiene arrangements at Part 7 of the School COVID-19 Response plan and the management of suspected cases of COVID-19 at Part 8 of the Plan.
Additional Measures for Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs
The School COVID-19 Response Plan recognises that additional consideration is required to support children with special educational needs and the staff who engage with them. These considerations are referenced in the HPSC advice on the Re-opening of Schools (June 2020). These include:
For children with special educational needs (SEN) maintaining physical distancing in many instances will not be practical or appropriate to implement. The focus should therefore be on emphasising that parents/guardians should have a heightened awareness of signs, symptoms or changes in baseline which suggests illness/COVID-19 infection and where symptoms are present children should not attend school. A precautionary approach should be taken.
Similarly staff should be aware of their responsibility not to attend work if they develop signs or symptoms of respiratory illness. A precautionary approach should be taken.
Hand hygiene
Children who are unable to wash their hands by themselves should be assisted to clean their hands using soap and water or a hand sanitiser (if their hands are visibly clean) as outlined previously.
Equipment
Some children may have care needs (physical or behavioural) which requires the use of aids and appliances and/or medical equipment for example toileting aids, moving and handling equipment, respiratory equipment. Where cleaning of aids and appliances is carried out in the school it is recommended that a cleaning schedule is provided, detailing when and how the equipment is cleaned and the cleaning products to be used in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions.
The following points can guide the development of such cleaning schedule:
Equipment used to deliver care should be visibly clean;
Care equipment should be cleaned in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions. Cleaning is generally achieved using a general purpose detergent and warm water.
Equipment that is used on different children must be cleaned and, if required, disinfected immediately after use and before use by another child e.g. toileting aids;
If equipment is soiled with body fluids:
First clean thoroughly with detergent and water;
Then disinfect by wiping with a freshly prepared solution of disinfectant;
Rinse with water and dry.
Appendix 3
Summary of additions to COVID-19 Response Plans required by ‘Work Safely Protocol’
Sec 4.2 Procedure for Returning to Work (RTW) & Appendix 6 Checklist for School Management
A RTW form should be completed and returned to the school before returning to work. Schools should request staff (verbally or in writing) to confirm that the details in the pre-return to work form remain unchanged following subsequent periods of closure such as school holidays.
Sec 5 Infection Prevention Control Measures – To prevent Introduction and Spread of COVID-19 in Schools
Advise staff and pupils to self-isolate or restrict their movements at home if they display any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and contact their family doctor to arrange a test
Advise staff and pupils not to return to or attend school in the event of the following:
if they are identified by the HSE as a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19
if they live with someone who has symptoms of the virus
If they have travelled outside of Ireland; in such instances staff are advised to consult and follow latest Government advice in relation to foreign travel.
Advise staff and pupils to cooperate with any public health officials and the school for contact tracing purposes and follow any public health advice in the event of a case or outbreak in the school;
Sec 5.3 Hand Hygiene
Alcohol-based sanitiser must not be stored or used near heat or naked flame
Sec 5.4 Physical Distancing
Ventilation – new section
The Department has published guidance setting out the practical steps for good ventilation in accordance with public health advice ‘Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools’ The guidance sets out an overall approach for schools that windows should be open as fully as possible when classrooms are not in use (e.g. during break-times or lunch-times (assuming not in use) and also at the end of each school day) and partially open when classrooms are in use. The guidance 2
provides that good ventilation can be achieved in classrooms without causing discomfort, particularly during cold weather.
Sec 8 Dealing with a Suspected Case of COVID-19
School staff should be encouraged to download the HSE COVID-19 tracker app to assist Public Health for contract tracing purposes both in and out of the school setting.
Sec 10 Staff Duties
Not to return to or attend school in the event of the following:
if they live with someone who has symptoms of the virus
If they have travelled outside of Ireland; in such instances staff are advised to consult and follow latest Government advice in relation to foreign travel.
Cooperate with any public health personnel and their school for contact tracing purposes and follow any public health advice given in the event of a case or outbreak in their school
Undergo any COVID-19 testing that may be required as part of mass or serial testing as advised by Public Health
Sec 12 Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme
Information updated in this section.
Number of questions increased from 5 to 7. Additional questions:
Are you awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test?
In the past 14 days, have you been in contact with a person who is a confirmed or suspected case Appendix 2 Pre-Return to Work Form COVID-19
of COVID-19?
Other 5 are slightly reworded
Appendix 6 Checklist for School Management
Staff
Have you requested confirmation that the details in the pre-return to work form remain unchanged following periods of closure such as school holidays.
3
Have you advised staff and pupils not to return to or attend school if they are identified by the HSE as a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 or if they live with someone who has symptoms of the virus.
Have you advised staff and pupils not to return or attend school if they have travelled outside of Ireland; in such instances staff are advised to consult and follow latest Government advice in relation to foreign travel
Have you advised staff and pupils to cooperate with any public health officials and the school for contact tracing purposes and follow any public health advice in the event of a case or outbreak in the school;
Hand / Respiratory Hygiene
Have you told staff and pupils when they need to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser? This includes:
When entering and exiting vehicles
When entering and exiting school buildings
Physical Distancing
Have you advised staff of the Department’s guidance to achieve good ventilation
Have you checked any mechanical ventilation systems to ensure an adequate supply of fresh air is used
Appendix 7 Checklist for dealing with a suspected case of COVID-19
A nominated member of the school management team will be will be responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the protocol to deal with suspected cases have been adhered to.
Appendix 9 Checklist for cleaning
Have you put in place a written cleaning schedule to be made available to cleaning staff including:
Cleaning of frequently touched surfaces such as vending machines, coffee machines and door handles
Specific Advice relating to the work of SNAs in close contact settings and mitigation measures to be observed in those settings
Specific advice has been provided by the HPSC for the work of SNAs (updated January 2021) and it is intended that while directed to SNAs it can also be applicable to all school staff who work delivering personal care or attention within 2metres to a pupil. This advice does not materially differ to the original guidance issued in June 2020 but as it is recently provided by HPSC with a particular focus on special education settings, it is set out below.
It notes that the “guidance is not a rulebook that must be followed to the letter. The appropriate use of this guidance requires the use of compassion and good sense and a reasonable judgment of the level of risk in most situations. If the general principles of this guidance are implemented, the risk that any given pupil or staff member in the educational setting on any given day has infectious COVID-19 is very low. All additional measures are applied as practical to the context with a view to further lowering the risk of transmission to staff or pupils in the event that a person with infectious COVID-19 is at school”. .
The guidance goes onto say:
The role of the Special Needs Assistant and Associated Risks of COVID-19
People living with certain disabilities associated with increased medical vulnerability may be disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The measures taken to control the spread of COVID-19 can also have a very serious impact on people with disability. Some disabled children and young people have additional care needs that must be met to support them in achieving their full potential. Children have a right to education and ensuring continued access to education for people living with disability is critical to managing the public health emergency in an inclusive way.
Special Needs Assistants play a vital role in supporting the additional care needs of some children and young people.
Some parts of the work performed by SNAs are similar to tasks performed by healthcare workers and in particular, the nature of the work is such that it is often not possible to maintain distance;
Some children and young people concerned may display behaviours that are associated with an increased risk of virus transmission if they are infectious;
Some children and young people concerned may have limited ability to self-report symptoms therefore recognising infection may be more difficult;
In this context, there is a requirement for specific guidance to support the work of SNAs and any other people who may provide similar support for children and young people with additional care needs.