Publication
Additional guidelines and procedures for primary and special schools
- Published on: 4 March 2021
- Last updated on: 16 August 2023
- Curriculum and assessment guidance
- School management guidance
- Department of Education circulars and information notes related to COVID-19
- Guidance on ventilation in schools
- Archived guidance documents
- Index of all publications relating to COVID-19
The guidelines and procedures below were issued to primary and special schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information see www.gov.ie/backtoschool
Curriculum and assessment guidance
- Curriculum Guidance Teaching, Learning and Assessment 2021-2022
- Guidance to support the effective management of transitions from early learning and care (ELC) settings to primary school – June 2021
- Returning to Standardised Testing in Primary Schools - May 2021
- Returning to school: Guidance for teaching and learning Junior Infants - 2nd class
- Returning to school: Guidance for teaching and learning 3rd class - 6th class
- Returning to school Curriculum guidance for primary school leaders and teachers
- Primary Curriculum Guidance - Frequently Asked Questions
- Guidance on Continuity of Schooling for Primary Schools
- Guidance on Remote Learning in a COVID-19 Context: September – December 2020
- Continuity of schooling: Supporting primary pupils who are at very high risk to COVID-19
- Guidance on Continuity of Schooling: Supporting Pupils with Special Educational Needs for primary and special schools
- Guidance on Continuity of Schooling: Supporting students at risk of educational disadvantage
- Supporting collaboration with parents in primary schools
School management guidance
- Changes to COVID 19 testing and contact tracing for children, 3months to under 13 years (and inclusive of all children attending primary school)
- Letter to school principals 23 February 2021
- Guidance Note for School Placement 2021/2022
- Updated requirements in relation to the provision of a Child Protection board of management
- Recording and reporting COVID-19 primary pupil related absences
- Checklist for maintaining physical distancing in the classroom
- Illustrative primary classroom layouts
- Illustrative SEN Classroom layouts
- Guidance for Primary Schools & Special Schools on PPE, Consumables and Equipment
- Minor Works Grant
Department of Education circulars and information notes related to COVID-19
Circulars:
- Circular 0045/2021 - Covid Learning and Support Scheme
- Circular 0043/2021 - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Arrangements for Staff other than Teachers and Special Needs Assistants who are employed in ETBs
- Circular 0074/2020 - Communication/Teaching & Learning Platform
- Circular 0054/2020 - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Arrangements for certain employees of recognised Primary and Post Primary schools in the Free Education Scheme and of ETBs, employed using grant funding
- Circular 0045/2020 - COVID-19 operational supports for the full return to school
Information notes:
- Information Note SD 0001/2021 - Further supplementary measures to increase the availability of substitute teachers for recognised primary schools – 2021/2022 school year
- COVID-19: Working Arrangements for staff (other than Teachers and SNAs) who are categorised as Very High Risk (VHR) and for Pregnant staff (other than Teachers and SNAs) employed in recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools - 2021/22 School Year
- Information Note TTC/004/2020 New Employee Assistance Service (EAS) Provider ‘Wellbeing Together: Folláine le Chéile
- Information Note TTC/002/2020 for the Filling of Internal Leadership and Management Positions in Primary Schools during the Period of Covid-19 Restrictions
Guidance on ventilation in schools
For guidance documents please see Guidance on Ventilation in Schools.