Covid-19 Return to School Plan

Contents.

  1. Aims
  2. Covid-19 Policy Statement
  3. Recognising the symptoms of Covid-19
  4. How to minimise the risk in Scoil Nuachabháil
  5. Dealing with a suspected case of Covid-19
  6. List of practises and procedures
  7. Resources

1.Aims

Through the implementation of the practices and procedures as outlined in this policy our school community aims to: 

• Do everything practical to avoid the introduction of COVID-19 into our school. 

• Reduce the likelihood of the spread of Covid-19, insofar as possible, within our school if introduced. 

• Detail for all members of our school community how our school will reopen for all students from the 26th of August and what the operation of our school will look like so as to be sustainable in a COVID-19 context. 

• Balance the need for a practical and sensible level of caution with the need to provide a supportive environment for teaching and learning.

  • Covid-19 Policy Statement

Scoil Nuachabháil is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our staff and a safe learning environment for all our students. To ensure that, we have developed the following COVID-19 Response Plan.  The BOM/ETB and all school staff are responsible for the implementation of this plan and a combined effort will help contain the spread of the virus.

The Board and staff of Scoil Nuachabháil:

  • continue to monitor our COVID-19 response and amend this plan in consultation with our staff
  • provide up to date information to our staff and students on the Public Health advice issued by the HSE and Gov.ie
  • display information on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and correct hand-washing techniques
  • agree with staff, a worker representative who is easily identifiable to carry out the role outlined in this plan in relation to summer provision
  • inform all staff and students of essential hygiene and respiratory etiquette and physical distancing requirements
  • adapt the school to facilitate physical distancing as appropriate in line with the public health guidance and direction of the Department of Education
  • keep a contact log to help with contact tracing
  • ensure staff and students engage with the induction / familiarisation briefing provided by the Department of Education
  • implement the agreed procedures to be followed in the event of someone showing symptoms of COVID-19 while at school
  • provide instructions for staff and students to follow if they develop signs and symptoms of COVID-19 during school time
  • implement cleaning in line with Department of Education advice

All school staff will be consulted on an ongoing basis and feedback is encouraged on any concerns, issues or suggestions.

This can be done through the Lead Worker Representative Laura O Brien, who will be supported in line with the agreement between the Department and education partners. Our Deputy Lead Worker is Denise Griffin.

Signed: Michael Bolger                       Date: 20th August 202

  • Recognising the symptoms of Covid-19

To prevent the spread of Covid-19 it is important to be aware of and recognise the symptoms. They are:

  • A high temperature
  • Cough
  • Breathing difficulties or shortness of breath
  • Loss of smell, taste or distortion of taste.
  • How to Minimise the Risk of Introduction of COVID-19 into our school

A range of essential control measures have been implemented to reduce the risk of the spread of the Covid-19 virus and to protect the safety, health and welfare of staff, pupils, parents and visitors, as far as possible, within the school environment. These control measures shall continue to be reviewed and updated as required on an ongoing basis.

It is critical that staff, pupils, parents and visitors are aware of, and adhere to, the control measures outlined and that they fully cooperate with all procedures and health and safety requirements

Practices and procedures.

  • Promoting Awareness
  • All members of our school community will actively promote awareness of COVID-19 symptoms. 
  • Signage informing members of the school community of the symptoms of Covid-19 and the need for social distancing are displayed at all access points to the school. 
  • All members of the school community will embed in pupils the need for appropriate respiratory hygiene and hand hygiene. 
  • Parents, pupils and staff will adhere to all procedures
  • Attendance at School

• Members of the school community who display symptoms of Covid-19 MUST NOT ATTEND OR VISIT OUR SCHOOL and should immediately phone their doctor and follow HSE guidance on self- isolation; 

• Members of the school community MUST NOT ATTEND OR VISIT OUR SCHOOL if they have been identified by the HSE as a contact for person with COVID-19 and must follow the HSE advice on restriction of movement; 

• Staff and pupils that develop symptoms at school must promptly bring this fact to the attention of the Principal, Deputy Principal, Class Teacher as appropriate. 

• Staff and pupils must know the protocol for managing a suspected case of COVID-19 in school as detailed in Section 8 of the DES Guidelines. 

• Everyone entering the school building must perform hand hygiene using hand sanitiser provided at each entrance. 

• If pupils are sick they MUST NOT present for school. 

Visitors

• Visitsto the school by all persons other than staff and pupils will be by appointment only. Appointments must be arranged in advance through the school office, by phone on 066-7137516 or by e mail at snuachabhail@gmail.com 

• Each visitor entering the school will be required to complete a Contract Tracing Log irrespective of the duration of the visit. 

• Parents must drop and collect pupils from the designated entrances and not enter the school grounds. 

• The only exceptions to this are: 

  • Parents of children in junior infants, who may accompany their child to the external door of the classroom until those children begin their first full infant day in the school
  • Parents of children dropping or collecting children from the Breakfast and/or After school clubs
  • Children with needs or who have access to an SNA

• Physical distancing of 2m should be maintained between staff and all visitors to the school. 

• Physical distancing of 2m should be maintained between all adults when on school grounds. 

Adults accompanying pupils to school as detailed above and visitors with pre-arranged appointment MUST wear suitable face coverings.

  • Respiratory Hygiene

All members of our school community MUST practise and actively promote good respiratory hygiene at home and at school as this will help protect people around us from viruses such as flu and Covis-19. 

Good respiratory hygiene entails: 

• Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your bent elbow when you cough or sneeze. 

• Disposing of the used tissue immediately and safely into a nearby bin. 

• Bins will be emptied at regular intervals.

  • Hand Hygiene

All members of our school community MUST practise and actively promote effective hand hygiene at home and at school. 

  • Staff and pupils must understand why hand hygiene is important as well as when and how to wash their hands. 
  • Hand sanitisers are installed, with appropriate signage, at each entry point, in each classroom and at appropriate locations throughout the school. 
  • Posters are displayed at each hand washing station throughout the school showing effective hand washing technique.

HSE Guidelines on handwashing can be found at https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/how-to-wash-your-hands.html

All persons entering the school building must perform hand hygiene using hand sanitiser provided.

Frequency of hand hygiene

       Pupils and staff MUST perform hand hygiene:

• On arrival at school; 

• Before eating or drinking; 

• After using the toilet; 

• After playing outdoors; 

• When their hands are physically dirty; 

• When they cough or sneeze. 

  • Physical Distancing

Maintaining physical distancing in the school environment is one of the key control measures to minimize the risk of the introduction and spread of COVID-19.

Physical distancing will be usefully applied in our school allowing for some flexibility when needed. It will be applied in a practical way that recognises that the learning environment cannot be dominated by a potentially counterproductive focus on this issue. Physical distancing in our school will look different across the various ages and stages of learning. 

It is recognised that it is not always possible for staff to maintain physical distance from pupils and it is not appropriate that they would always be expected to do so where this could have a detrimental impact on the pupil i.e. if a child sustains an injury and requires first aid. 

However, where possible staff should maintain a minimum of 1m distance and where possible 2m. They should also take measures to avoid close contact at face to face level such as remaining standing rather than sitting beside/crouching down. Staff will wear suitable face coverings while at work. 

All adult visitors to the school, as scheduled by appointment, MUST maintain a 2m distance from school staff and wear suitable face coverings.

4.5.1 Arrival to school

  • No child will be allowed on the school premises before 8:45 am.
  • Children will enter their classrooms in the morning via the external doors (fire doors), which will be kept open.
  • The class teacher will be present in the classroom to receive the children from 8:45 am onward.
  • Parents can drive into the school via the top (grey) gate, around the school, dropping their child at the appropriate entry door, before exiting at the bottom (green) gate.
  • SET Teachers will monitor children who are dropped off at the front gate.
  • All traffic around the school in the morning will be SET DOWN only.
  • Any person seen to be blocking the flow of traffic, either by parking causing obstruction, or standing where cars are trying to pass will be asked to move.

*The morning restrictions will not apply to new infants for the first two weeks. Parents of junior infants may walk their child to the external door and watch them enter the classroom. Junior infant parents must park further down the road so that their cars will not interfere with the flow of traffic.

4.5.2 Dismissal

  • Children from junior and senior infants will be dismissed at 1:40 pm. They will be allowed to walk to the person designated to collect them, once the teacher sees it is safe. Parents/Guardians collecting children at this time will park outside the school and meet the children in the designated area in the school yard.
  • Those infants with older siblings in the school, attending supervision hour, will be collected by one of the staff of the After school and brought to the After school room.
  • At 2:20 pm children from Múinteoir Kathy’s 1st class, and their older siblings will be dismissed. Parents must park around the school (as per morning drop off) and make their way to their designated area at the front of the school, to collect their children.
  • At 2:30 pm children from Múinteoir Katie’s 2nd/3rd class, Múinteoir Aoife’s 3rd/4th class and their older siblings will be dismissed. The parents of these children can park as usual at the front of the school. There will be a designated area inside the school gates where you must collect your child/children.
  • Children in Múinteoir Micheál’s 5th and Múinteoir Anna’s 6th will be dismissed at 2:40 pm. Parents of these children will be asked to park around the school as per morning arrival so as to keep traffic off the road. Again there will be a designated area for you to meet your child.

Designated pick up point

The designated area for collection of children is along the verge of the grass at the front of the school. There will be cones in a line for parents to stand at so that children can see them easily. When you have collected your child/children, please return to your car immediately, especially if you are parked on the school grounds, to avoid holding up traffic.

Parents must accept that there are bound to be some delays as we become familiar with the routines. We will implement any suggestions which are practicable. These procedures are being put in place by the board of management to protect everyone in our school community.

Parental responsibilities on arrival and dismissal

  • Parents must arrive on time for collection of children and leave promptly.
  • Only parents or carers who are well and have no symptoms of COVID-19 or who have served the required quarantine time of 14 days where advised are allowed to drop off and collect children. 
  • Any parent who is in a high risk category should not drop off or collect children in order to protect themselves. 
  • Parents must not congregate in groups. 
  • Parents who are permitted on school grounds (Infants and pupils with additional needs) must ensure their child remains at their side at all times and that their child does not interact with other children. 
  • Parents who are permitted on school grounds (Infants and pupils with additional needs) must wear suitable face coverings 
  • At arrival and departure times of children, social distancing is to be maintained by children and parents.

5. Dealing with a suspected case of Covid-19

Staff or pupils should not attend school if displaying any symptoms of Covid-19. The following outlines how Scoil Nuachabháil will deal with a suspected case that may arise during the course of the day.

A designated isolation area is identified within the school building. The possibility of having more than one person displaying signs of Covid-19 will be considered and a contingency plan for dealing with additional cases put in place. The designated isolation area is across the hall from the secretary’s office. If a staff member/pupil displays symptoms of Covid-19 while at work in Scoil Nuachabháil the following are the procedures to be implemented:

 · If the person with the suspected case is a pupil, the parents/guardians will be contacted immediately

·We will isolate the person and have a procedure in place to accompany the individual to the designated isolation area via the isolation route, keeping at least 2 metres away from the symptomatic person and also making sure that others maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from the symptomatic person at all times

·We will provide a mask for the person presenting with symptoms. He/she should wear the mask if in a common area with other people or while exiting the premises

· We will assess whether the individual who is displaying symptoms can immediately be directed to go home/be brought home by parents and call their doctor and continue self-isolation at home

· We can facilitate the person presenting with symptoms remaining in isolation if they cannot immediately go home and facilitate them calling their doctor. The individual should avoid touching people, surfaces and objects. Advice should be given to the person presenting with symptoms to cover their mouth and nose with the disposable tissue provided when they cough or sneeze and put the tissue in the waste bag provided

· If the person is well enough to go home, we will arrange for them to be transported home by a family member, as soon as possible and advise them to inform their general practitioner by phone of their symptoms.

· If they are too unwell to go home or advice is required, we will contact 999 or 112 and inform them that the sick person is a Covid-19 suspect.

· We have made arrangements with our cleaners for appropriate cleaning of the isolation area and work areas involved.

The HSE will inform any staff/parents who have come into close contact with a diagnosed case via the contact tracing process. The HSE will contact all relevant persons where a diagnosis of COVID-19 is made. The instructions of the HSE will be followed and staff confidentiality is essential at all times.

6. List of practices and procedures

6.1 Books and school supplies

• Parents must ensure that all books/writing equipment are sanitised using alcohol wipes before being placed in the child’s schoolbag. 

• Parents must ensure that all of the child’s equipment/books/copies are labelled with the child’s name as equipment/books cannot and will not be shared. 

• We are asking parents to ensure your child has a pencil case for home use and another one for school use. The pencil case used at home will not be brought to school and the pencil case used in school will not be brought home. 

6.2 Clothing

The children can wear the school tracksuit to school each day. We advise buying two tracksuits so as to enable more frequent washing. Jackets will be placed on the back of chairs to avoid congregating at coat racks.

6.3 Face coverings

• Staff members will wear face coverings/visors, similar to those worn in shops or on public transport, when a physical distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained. SNA’s will discuss appropriate face wear with the parents of the children under their care

• There is no requirement for pupils to wear face coverings. 

• All adult visitors to school grounds MUST WEAR suitable face coverings.

6.4 Handshkes/hugs

Handshakes and hugging will not be allowed.

6.5 Home/School communications

• For the start of the school year communication between home and school will take place electronically using e mail, Zoom and Aladdin. 

• Face to face meetings will only be used in exceptional circumstances. 

6.6 Homework

• Homework will be assigned at the teacher’s discretion, however, we would strongly encourage each pupil to read as extensively as possible during this time.

6.7 Hygiene and Cleaning

• Sanitiser dispensers have been installed throughout the school e.g. at each entrance, in each classroom and support room, and in offices. 

         • Emulsifying soap is available in all toilets. 

• Hand hygiene will be promoted and encouraged, and parents/guardians are asked to support the school in reinforcing this message. 

• In accordance with the DES guidelines, the school will be thoroughly cleaned by ABC Cleaning Contractors once per day. 

• All staff will have access to cleaning products and will be required to maintain cleanliness of their own work area. Under no circumstances should these cleaning materials be removed from the building. Staff should thoroughly clean and disinfect their work area before and after use each day. 

• Waste will be collected regularly from offices and other areas within the school. 

       • Staff must use and clean their own equipment and utensils

6.8 Inability to attend school due to Covid- 19 

• Pupils who are unable to attend school on medical grounds, due to Covid-19, must provide the school with a letter/report from their GP/Consultant stating that they cannot attend on health grounds. 

• In the absence of medical certification of non-attendance the school is obliged by law to implement the terms of The Education Welfare Act as normal.

6.9 Lunches

 • Parents must ensure that all lunch boxes/water bottles are sanitised using alcohol wipes before being placed in the child’s schoolbag. 

• Parents MUST ensure that pupils have sufficient lunch/drink coming to school each morning as we will not be in a position to accept and distribute lunches during the school day. 

• Please remind your children not to share their food or drinks with other children. 

• Please make sure your child is self-sufficient ie. they can open/peel any lunch/drink you pack for them.

• Please make sure they have enough drinks to last them throughout the day as we will not be in a position to refill drinks bottles. 

• Children will eat their lunches at their desks. No food will be allowed onto the yard. 

• All leftovers/waste must be stored in each pupil’s lunchbox and must be disposed of at home.

6.10 Office

• We request that parents use e-payments as much as possible to minimise the amount of cash that needs to be handled. 

        • Attendance at school office is by pre-arranged appointment only. 

        • Pupils will not have access to offices. 

• As far as possible, staff members should minimise their entry to the office area.

6.11 Photocopying

 • Any staff member who uses the photocopier must clean it down after use with the wipes provided.

6.12 P.E and P.E equipment

 Physical Education lessons will take place outside when the weather allows. Teachers will organise lessons that require very little if any equipment. Staff members and pupils will be encouraged to take additional breaks outside during the school day. While these breaks are taking place all windows in the classroom should be opened to allow for ventilation. All PE equipment if used must be sanitised after use. 

6.13 Punctuality

It is essential that parents/pupils adhere strictly to the times allocated for assembly and dismissal. Parents of pupils who present late for school must contact the school office by phone to arrange entry to the school. Pupils remain the responsibility of the parents/guardians until they have arranged access to the school.

6.14 Returning from abroad

Children who have travelled from countries not on the Green List must not attend school during the 14-day self-isolation period which commences on the date of return to Ireland.

6.15 Staffroom

• All staff members must maintain a physical distance of 2 metres when they are not engaged in teaching e.g. when they are using the staff room and arriving to work. 

• Staff meetings for the most part will be held remotely or in small groups if deemed necessary 

• Staff members should bring their own cups, bottles, cutlery, etc. to school and avoid sharing utensils in the staffroom as far as possible. 

• Staff members should bring any waste/leftovers home. 

       • Due to staggered break times a max of 4 people at any time will be in the staffroom.

6.16 Substitute Teachers and SNAs

The sequence for covering all teacher absences will be in accordance with DES circular 0045/2020. A copy of the Covid-19 Return to School Policy will be provided to each substitute teacher/SNA. Substitutes will be required to complete a Return to the Workplace form before they enter a classroom and will be asked to confirm that they have engaged in the online Induction training.

6.17 Teaching and Learning

  • As a school, we are very aware that the children have been away from school since March 12th. We appreciate the time and effort that went into Home Learning, and we recognise the challenges that Home Learning presented for all families. 
    • Each child will be in a different place in relation to his/her learning, and we wish to assure you that staff will take that into consideration when planning for Teaching and Learning during the 2020/2021 school year. 
    • The Department of Education and Skills has published Curriculum guidelines for schools, as we work with all the children during the return to school. Initially there will be a focus on Language, Numeracy, SPHE and PE. As advised by the National Educational Psychological Services we will need to “Slow down to catch up”.

6.18 SEN

• Staff members (particularly Support Teachers and SNAs) may rotate between areas/classes but this will be limited to movement between a maximum of two zones. When rotation occurs, agreed sanitising routines will be observed. 

• In keeping with our Special Education policy, support will be provided by a blended approach of in-class support and withdrawal. 

• The provision of support will be organised to ensure our support teachers will work as far as possible, within the confines of a bubble (class) 

• Where a support teacher is working alongside a class teacher in a classroom, both teachers must be mindful of maintaining social distance from one another. 

• The tables and chairs in SET rooms will be wiped clean by the SET in between different pupils or small groups attending. 

6.19 Uniforms

• There is no guidance or advice to say that school uniforms or tracksuits should be washed every day and this is not practical for most families. However, children’s uniforms must be clean and washed regularly as a child may have coughed or sneezed into their sleeve as per coughing protocols. 

• As a school we strongly advise that children should wear their school uniforms only for school related activities. Uniforms or tracksuits should be taken off straight after the child arrives home from school for the day. They should not be worn in shops, during after-school activities, etc.

6.20 Ventilation

To ensure that classrooms are well ventilated, windows will be kept open as often as possible, and will be opened while children are taking breaks in the playground.

6.21 Visiting teachers/ Coaches

The possibility of facilitating extra-curricular will eventually be explored. However, it is not recommended that children from different bubbles would participate in extra-curricular activities at the same time. For the foreseeable future all of these activities are suspended.

6.22 Wellbeing

We will work on the recommended five principles to support the wellbeing of all our pupils and staff. 

These are promoting: 

• A sense of safety 

• A sense of calm 

• A sense of belonging and connectedness to school 

• A sense of self-efficacy and school-community efficacy 

• A sense of hope and happiness

Our usual practice is to provide support to pupils based on the Continuum of Support. This is a tiered system that provides Whole School and Classroom Support for all pupils, additional School Support for some pupils, and School Support plus extra targeted intervention for a few pupils with complex needs. 

• The Stay Safe programme will be taught in all classes at the start of the school year. 

• Increased emphasis will be placed in all classes on SPHE / PE and outdoor activities. 

7. Resources

Help with Starting The Conversation https://www.traumainformedschools.co.uk/images/preparing_your_child_for_the_return_to_school.jpg 

Tips for Returning to School Video (8mins) https://nipinthebud.org/information-films/tips-for-returning-to-school/ 

Tips for Returning to School Factsheet https://nipinthebud.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Supporting-Children-Returning-to-School-After-the- Lockdown.pdf 

Mentally Healthy Schools UK: Return to School Toolkit: https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/media/2077/coronavirus-toolkit-return-to-school.pdf 

Beacon House UK, Tips for Parents to Help Child Return to School: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/newsletters/parents-how-to-help-your-child-return-to-school- successfully 

Help With Sleep Routines https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/plan-ahead-start-back-school-bedtime-routines-now 

Autism NI Northern Ireland’s Autism Charity https://www.autismni.org/resources has many packs freely available such as: Return to School Pack: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cf788f054106a000185c13a/t/5f0839cd0268093cb32816c6/159437463 6880/Going+back+to+school+resource+kit+PDF.pdf 

Letting Go & Future Plans Activity https://www.partnershipforchildren.org.uk/uploads/Files/PDFs/Resilience%20Activities/Letting%20Go% 20and%20Future%20plans.pdf 

Going Back to School Activity Sheet https://www.partnershipforchildren.org.uk/uploads/Files/PDFs/Resilience%20Activities/Going%20back %20to%20school.pdf 

General Support Websites & Helplines for Parents 

Department of Education Website Support for Parents: https://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Announcements/guide-for-parents-supporting-children.pdf 

Gov.ie Website dedicated to Supporting people during Covid-19 – Section ‘In This Together’ Coping at Home During Covid-19 https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/606da7-coping-at-home-during-covid-19/ 

List of Support Services https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/mental-health-services/connecting-for-life/news/supports-and- services-during-covid-19.html#young-people 

NCSE Parent Resources https://ncse.ie/parent-resources 

Department of Children and Youth Affairs Support for Parents: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/parents-centre/ 

Psychological Society of Ireland Support for Wellbeing https://www.psychologicalsociety.ie/footer/COVID19-Resources 

Parenting Tips https://www.covid19parenting.com/englishtips 

Understanding and Coping with Reactions to a Pandemic: https://medicine.yale.edu/childstudy/communitypartnerships/cvtc/Understanding%20%26%20Coping% 20with%20Reactions%20in%20a%20Pandemic_386176_284_28977_v1.pdf