Has the school a re-opening plan?
Yes. The school will be fully implementing the advice of the Department of Education and Skills and the HSE. Our school COVID-19 policy is available on this website.
Will the school be very different for the children?
Not hugely. In line with Department of Education & Skills guidelines, classrooms will be laid out to maximise distancing between groups of children. Children will usually be seated in groups of 4 to 6. This is the normal practice so the children will be used to this. There will be less furniture in the rooms and the rooms will contain nothing other than resources necessary for the school day. There will also be less movement between groups in the classroom. Interaction with other classes will be limited. The DES also recognises “that younger children are unlikely to maintain physical distancing indoors” and that physical distancing “is not a pre-requisite to reopening”. We will, then, be taking a very practical view of this and we acknowledge that the level to which children understand this will vary greatly depending on the age of the children. Overall therefore there will be little change to our classroom layouts.
What happens if there is a suspected case of Covid19 in the school?
Firstly, pupils should not attend school if displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 or if they are feeling unwell. If a child or staff member becomes unwell during the day they will be taken to the isolation area in the school. In our case this is the inside foyer, located inside the reception area. Parents / guardians of the child will be contacted immediately by the school secretary. The DES advice is that children who have symptoms should immediately “be brought home by parents who will call their doctor and continue self-isolation at home”. If the child is very unwell the school will call emergency services.
What if there is a confirmed case of Covid19 in the school?
The current advice is that where there is a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 amongst school staff or pupils, schools need to maintain both staff and pupil confidentiality at all times and must follow the instructions of HSE Public Health.
HSE Public Health will inform any staff/parents or students who come into close contact with a diagnosed case via the contact tracing process; contact all relevant persons where a diagnosis of COVID-19 is made; and advise on the appropriate action, on a case-by-case basis, that should be taken vis-à-vis the operation of the school.
Can parents enter the school grounds & building?
We would encourage all parents, other than infant parents, to drop their child at the front gate. Only infant parents should go onto the infant yard to drop and collect their children. If parents have a need they are of course welcome to call into reception but should remember to social distance & wear a face covering. As normal if parents need to meet with a staff member they should make an appointment. Appointments for the moment at least, should only be requested in exceptional circumstances as we try to limit the flow of people into the school. The Department of Education and Skills advises that “arrangements for necessary visitors such as contractors and parents should be restricted to essential purposes and limited to those who have obtained prior approval from the principal”. It will also be necessary for the school to maintain a contact log of all visitors who enter the school and details of who they meet, no matter how short the visit.
Will my child have to sit in the same place for the year?
No. It may be necessary, for many reasons, to change the seating arrangements during the school year. We will, of course, try to be as consistent as possible in relation to where children and adults work and will generally make changes when there is a natural break
What about uniforms?
The school uniform and tracksuit remain the same and should be worn to school as normal. We have had a number of queries in relation to suggestions that uniforms must be washed every day. This is not the case. To assist parents if they wish to launder uniforms/tracksuits on a more regular basis and to provide clarity on what is to be worn each day children will wear their school tracksuit on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. Children will wear the school uniform on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Will the school staff receive training?
Yes. All staff will undertake and complete Covid-19 Induction Training prior to returning to school. The aim of such training is to ensure that staff have full knowledge and understanding of the latest up to-date advice and guidance on public health; Covid-19 symptoms; what to do if a staff member or pupil develops symptoms of Covid-19 while at school.
Will the school be cleaned regularly?
Yes, the school will be cleaned each day in line with HSE advice. Our school is one of the few that has always been cleaned daily so there is no change here however additional cleaning will now take place during the school day. This additional cleaning will focus on frequently touched surfaces such as door handles & plates, keeping dispensers stocked and emptying of bins. The school has also been deep cleaned before reopening. Each classroom has hand washing / disinfecting materials and proper hygiene measures will be consistent in all classes.
When will children wash/sanitise their hands?
In line with DES guidelines, children will wash/sanitise their hands on arrival in school, before eating or drinking, after using the toilet, after playing outdoors, when their hands are physically dirty and when they cough or sneeze. Warm water is available in all classes to facilitate proper hand washing and hand-sanitising dispensers are located in the classrooms and throughout the school.
Can children bring toys to school?
No. Children should leave their own personal toys at home. But they will have, where necessary, access to toys and other resources in school which will be cleaned regularly.
Should my child wear a face covering?
All the advice from the Department of Education & Skills, HSE & HPSC is clear on this issue. It is not recommended that children under the age of 13 wear face masks. Where a mask is worn the school will not be responsible for ensuring the child keeps his/her mask on or wears it properly at all times etc.
Should I give my child a small bottle of sanitiser for their hands?
No. There is no need to give your child sanitiser. Every classroom has sinks in the toilet and class areas. In addition a wall mounted sanitiser dispenser has been installed at a child friendly height in each room. Dispensers have also been installed for children at all entry doorways. If teachers report a need for additional dispensers, the school will install same.
Should my child wear gloves?
No. There is no need for your child to wear gloves and indeed the advice is that they are not a substitute for hand hygiene and are in fact more likely to expose the user and others to greater risk.
Will there be break times and what will happen on breaks?
Children will have two lunch breaks as normal during the school day. Both breaks will now be for 20 minutes with children receiving time before going outside to eat their lunch. The infant yard will continue as normal other than junior & senior infants will play in separate areas. The senior yard will now have two breaks with 1st/3rd & 5th on break together and 2nd/4th & 6th on break together. We are fortunate to have a large senior yard which we have divided into three areas, one for each class. Children must stay within their class area and play with their own classmates. Breaks will be fully supervised as normal and children will be expected to sanitise their hands when returning to class.
Yes. The school will be fully implementing the advice of the Department of Education and Skills and the HSE. Our school COVID-19 policy is available on this website.
Will the school be very different for the children?
Not hugely. In line with Department of Education & Skills guidelines, classrooms will be laid out to maximise distancing between groups of children. Children will usually be seated in groups of 4 to 6. This is the normal practice so the children will be used to this. There will be less furniture in the rooms and the rooms will contain nothing other than resources necessary for the school day. There will also be less movement between groups in the classroom. Interaction with other classes will be limited. The DES also recognises “that younger children are unlikely to maintain physical distancing indoors” and that physical distancing “is not a pre-requisite to reopening”. We will, then, be taking a very practical view of this and we acknowledge that the level to which children understand this will vary greatly depending on the age of the children. Overall therefore there will be little change to our classroom layouts.
What happens if there is a suspected case of Covid19 in the school?
Firstly, pupils should not attend school if displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 or if they are feeling unwell. If a child or staff member becomes unwell during the day they will be taken to the isolation area in the school. In our case this is the inside foyer, located inside the reception area. Parents / guardians of the child will be contacted immediately by the school secretary. The DES advice is that children who have symptoms should immediately “be brought home by parents who will call their doctor and continue self-isolation at home”. If the child is very unwell the school will call emergency services.
What if there is a confirmed case of Covid19 in the school?
The current advice is that where there is a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 amongst school staff or pupils, schools need to maintain both staff and pupil confidentiality at all times and must follow the instructions of HSE Public Health.
HSE Public Health will inform any staff/parents or students who come into close contact with a diagnosed case via the contact tracing process; contact all relevant persons where a diagnosis of COVID-19 is made; and advise on the appropriate action, on a case-by-case basis, that should be taken vis-à-vis the operation of the school.
Can parents enter the school grounds & building?
We would encourage all parents, other than infant parents, to drop their child at the front gate. Only infant parents should go onto the infant yard to drop and collect their children. If parents have a need they are of course welcome to call into reception but should remember to social distance & wear a face covering. As normal if parents need to meet with a staff member they should make an appointment. Appointments for the moment at least, should only be requested in exceptional circumstances as we try to limit the flow of people into the school. The Department of Education and Skills advises that “arrangements for necessary visitors such as contractors and parents should be restricted to essential purposes and limited to those who have obtained prior approval from the principal”. It will also be necessary for the school to maintain a contact log of all visitors who enter the school and details of who they meet, no matter how short the visit.
Will my child have to sit in the same place for the year?
No. It may be necessary, for many reasons, to change the seating arrangements during the school year. We will, of course, try to be as consistent as possible in relation to where children and adults work and will generally make changes when there is a natural break
What about uniforms?
The school uniform and tracksuit remain the same and should be worn to school as normal. We have had a number of queries in relation to suggestions that uniforms must be washed every day. This is not the case. To assist parents if they wish to launder uniforms/tracksuits on a more regular basis and to provide clarity on what is to be worn each day children will wear their school tracksuit on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. Children will wear the school uniform on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Will the school staff receive training?
Yes. All staff will undertake and complete Covid-19 Induction Training prior to returning to school. The aim of such training is to ensure that staff have full knowledge and understanding of the latest up to-date advice and guidance on public health; Covid-19 symptoms; what to do if a staff member or pupil develops symptoms of Covid-19 while at school.
Will the school be cleaned regularly?
Yes, the school will be cleaned each day in line with HSE advice. Our school is one of the few that has always been cleaned daily so there is no change here however additional cleaning will now take place during the school day. This additional cleaning will focus on frequently touched surfaces such as door handles & plates, keeping dispensers stocked and emptying of bins. The school has also been deep cleaned before reopening. Each classroom has hand washing / disinfecting materials and proper hygiene measures will be consistent in all classes.
When will children wash/sanitise their hands?
In line with DES guidelines, children will wash/sanitise their hands on arrival in school, before eating or drinking, after using the toilet, after playing outdoors, when their hands are physically dirty and when they cough or sneeze. Warm water is available in all classes to facilitate proper hand washing and hand-sanitising dispensers are located in the classrooms and throughout the school.
Can children bring toys to school?
No. Children should leave their own personal toys at home. But they will have, where necessary, access to toys and other resources in school which will be cleaned regularly.
Should my child wear a face covering?
All the advice from the Department of Education & Skills, HSE & HPSC is clear on this issue. It is not recommended that children under the age of 13 wear face masks. Where a mask is worn the school will not be responsible for ensuring the child keeps his/her mask on or wears it properly at all times etc.
Should I give my child a small bottle of sanitiser for their hands?
No. There is no need to give your child sanitiser. Every classroom has sinks in the toilet and class areas. In addition a wall mounted sanitiser dispenser has been installed at a child friendly height in each room. Dispensers have also been installed for children at all entry doorways. If teachers report a need for additional dispensers, the school will install same.
Should my child wear gloves?
No. There is no need for your child to wear gloves and indeed the advice is that they are not a substitute for hand hygiene and are in fact more likely to expose the user and others to greater risk.
Will there be break times and what will happen on breaks?
Children will have two lunch breaks as normal during the school day. Both breaks will now be for 20 minutes with children receiving time before going outside to eat their lunch. The infant yard will continue as normal other than junior & senior infants will play in separate areas. The senior yard will now have two breaks with 1st/3rd & 5th on break together and 2nd/4th & 6th on break together. We are fortunate to have a large senior yard which we have divided into three areas, one for each class. Children must stay within their class area and play with their own classmates. Breaks will be fully supervised as normal and children will be expected to sanitise their hands when returning to class.
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