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Reopening our post primary schools
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Guidance and videos for parents and students are available on our Information for students, parents and families page.
This Return to Work Form must be completed by school staff in advance of returning to the workplace.
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.
This letter from Dr. Tony Holohan, CMO was issued to parents on 16 December 2020:
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.
For more information go to www.hse.ie/cvdcc
The HSE have published A parent’s guide to close contacts. This guide sets out what to expect when your child has been told they are a close contact of COVID-19 in school.
See below a paper prepared by the Office of the Clinical Director, Health Protection, HSE and a letter issued to schools.
Schools Pathway for COVID-19: The Public Health approach
Paper prepared by the Office of the Clinical Director, Health Protection, HSE
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Advice can be found on the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) website.
This leaflet was developed for school principals or designated contact person by the HSE in collaboration with the Department of Education:
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.
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 and resources during COVID-19
The department has created a range of training and resource materials for use in schools.
See guidelines and procedures issued to post-primary schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes curriculum and assessment guidance, school management guidance and Department of Education circulars and information notes related to COVID-19.
This leaflet was developed for school principals or designated contact person by the HSE in collaboration with the Department of Education:
Here is some guidance on key issues relating to school reopening that schools and parents may find helpful in answering some of their questions:
Resumption of Schooling Autumn 2020: Report on analysis of data from principals
This report presents an analysis of data from the Inspectorate’s advisory sessions with principals and other school leaders during the period 01 September 2020 to 25 September 2020.
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Return to School: Report on analysis of data from principals, October and November 2020
Published March 2021
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Return to School: Report on focus groups with pupils and students, September and October 2020
Published March 2021
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Return to School: Report on focus groups with pupils and students, November 2020
Published March 2021
Download
Return to school: Report on findings of surveys in primary schools, post-primary and special schools, October 2020
Published March 2021
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Return to School: Report on findings of surveys in primary schools and special schools, December 2020
Published March 2021
Download
Return to School: Report on findings of surveys in post-primary schools, December 2020
Published March 2021
Download
Educational facilities mid-term review - a focus on primary and post-primary schools. The public health perspective
Office of the Clinical Director of Health Protection
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