It has just been announced that special education schools are to reopen with 50% capacity from February 11, while all special education classes within mainstream schools are to reopen from February 22.
The Irish National Teachers’ Union (INTO) along with Fórsa, who represent special needs assistants (SNAs), have agreed to the plan to reopen special education schools, now that changes are being made to make sure that returning to work is “as safe as it possibly could be.”
According to this revised plan, special education schools are allowed to open from Thursday, February 11 at only 50% capacity, with students attending on alternate days.
Following this, all students who attend special education classes within mainstream schools are allowed to go back to school from Monday, February 22 on alternate days, with a limit of six pupils in each class.
This new plan will include “significantly enhanced” safety measures for both staff and students, including SNAs now being included in the first 30% of the population to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
These new measures also include additional PPE gear, a revised number of people allowed in classrooms, and provisions for SNAs and teachers who are medically vulnerable or pregnant.
A more detailed outline of the phased reopening of schools will be distributed tomorrow.
More to follow.
