This following target dates have been agreed between Government Ministers and education partners:- Junior infants, senior infants, first and second class due to return to primary school;- Special schools due to increase from 50 per cent to 100 per cent attendance.- Third, fourth, fifth and sixth classes due to return to primary schools;- Early learning and care and school-age childcare services to reopen.
* Parents will be asked to sign declaration forms when children return after an absence confirming they do not have symptoms, along with new advice which “errs on the side of caution” in keeping children at home. Parents will also be urged to avoid congregating outside schools; However, there are thousands of children with additional needs in mainstream classes who have not yet returned. They include children with autism and Down Syndrome.
AsIAm, the autism charity , says the plans are a “betrayal” of children with additional needs and will see, for example, fifth-year secondary school pupils prioritised ahead of nine year olds with additional needs.Public health authorities say schools had relatively few cases compared to the wider community while they were open last year.
Ireland’s approach will be phased and our schools have slightly different rules over social distancing and use of face masks, which makes direct comparison problematic.Some of the childcare sector has remained open to children of essential workers since Christmas.