Reopening our primary and special schools - Archived

Guidance for August 2022 - Archived

Information for students, parents and families

Guidance and videos for parents and children are available on our Information for students, parents and families page.

COVID-19 response plan for the safe and sustainable operation of primary and special schools

Return-to-work form

This Return-to-work form must be completed by school staff in advance of returning to the workplace.

Returning to school: guidance for teaching and learning (junior infants - 2nd class)

This document provides practical advice for teachers as schools recommence face-to-face learning for pupils from junior infants to second class.

Returning to school: guidance for teaching and learning (3rd class - 6th class)

This document provides practical advice for teachers as schools recommence face-to-face learning for pupils from third class to sixth class.

The importance and significance of ensuring educational facilities safely open to pupils, and remain safely open for pupils and staff, is acknowledged across society and supported within the Public Health Medical community and the health services at large.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) advice for educational settings is available here.

For more information go to www.hse.ie/cvdcc

• Students not attending school if they have symptoms (Multilingual)
• The FAQs on primary schools and masks sent to schools on 6 December is available here.
• Guidance on the use of face coverings in Primary Schools
• Use of antigen testing in certain circumstances in children who are asymptomatic and part of a classroom pod, where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19

Changes to COVID-19 testing and contact tracing for children aged three months to under 13 years (and inclusive of all children attending primary school)

Update from HSE for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) managers and school principals:

COVID-19 and schools the public health approach

This video is a webinar held for school principals

Advice for school principals on the steps they can take if notified of a positive case

Dr Abigail Collins has advice for School Principals on the steps they can take if told that a child or staff member test positive for COVID-19 and how soon HSE Public Health will be in touch.

Advice for school staff who are a close contact of COVID-19

Listen to expert advice from Dr Abigail Collins on what to do if you work in an educational setting and are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19.

Schools pathway for COVID-19: the public-health approach

See below a paper prepared by the Office of the Clinical Director, Health Protection, HSE and a letter issued to schools.

Guidance on respiratory care in schools for children with tracheostomy who require suctioning while in school

Advice can be found on the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) website.

Promoting the wellbeing of our school communities is a fundamental element of the department’s overall plan to ensure a successful return to school as we continue to manage the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are living through exceptional times and this impacts on the wellbeing of everyone in different ways, at different times. People have been naturally worried about the risk to their physical health and that of their loved ones and have been challenged to varying degrees by the public-health measures that were put in place in Ireland to control the spread of the virus, such as staying at home and school closures.

• You can view the full guidance on wellbeing for schools here.
• You can view the wellbeing webinars, toolkits and a directory of CPD and online resources here.

The Employee Assistance Service (EAS) for school staff provides advice to employees on a range of issues including wellbeing, legal, financial, bereavement, conflict and mediation. The EAS also provides advice and support to managers and delivers interventions to help them deal with health and wellbeing issues in the workplace.

The Department of Education NEPS psychologists have developed the following advice and resources for parents, students and school staff as they return to school following school closure due to Covid-19, see NEPS advice & resources during Covid-19

The department has created a range of training and resource materials for use in schools.

You can also see a range of posters produced to display in schools here.

Information on supports for the special-education sector in the reopening of schools is available here

Guidelines and procedures issued to primary and special schools during the COVID-19 pandemic are available here. This includes curriculum and assessment guidance, school management guidance and Department of Education circulars and information notes related to COVID-19.

COVID-19 FAQ for school principals or designated contact person

This leaflet was developed for school principals or designated contact person by the HSE in collaboration with the Department of Education:

Guidance on key issues relating to school reopening

Here is some guidance on key issues relating to school reopening that schools and parents may find helpful in answering some of their questions:

Back to school – frequently raised topics