Northern Ireland

Schools call for clarity as told to facilitate children of 'key workers'

Teacher Caitlin Ni Ruanaidh prepares some online lessons at Coláiste Feirste as schools close to most pupils. Picture by Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Teacher Caitlin Ni Ruanaidh prepares some online lessons at Coláiste Feirste as schools close to most pupils. Picture by Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Teacher Caitlin Ni Ruanaidh prepares some online lessons at Coláiste Feirste as schools close to most pupils. Picture by Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

PRINCIPALS and teachers are working to avoid "chaos and unsafe environments" when schools partially re-open on Monday.

Schools are to remain closed for most pupils but are still expected to facilitate children of `key workers'.

No teaching of these children - who have been asked to attend in uniform - will actually take place on site.

Instead, teachers and classroom assistants will provide supervision on a rota.

Education minister Peter Weir estimated up to 15 per cent of the school population would likely attend on Monday.

An extensive list of key worker groups that he sent to schools covered health, education, childcare, security, transport and "other workers essential to delivering key public services".

Schools are demanding further clarity and, in the meantime, leaders have drawn up their own, more focussed guidance.

Many had anticipated that a skeleton network of schools would be required to stay open to accommodate a limited numbers of pupils, rather than every school in the north.

Schools have suggested:

:: Only children with both parents working as key workers, and both at work at the same time, should consider attending school

:: In single parent families, the individual parent must be a key worker

:: Use schools as a last resort. This will limit the number of children and adults together in a small space in line with social distancing guidance

:: Children who refuse to attend school must not be forced to

:: Schools will not have wraparound services available

Some schools have said on arrival each day, a pupil will need to sign to confirm they do not have, and there is nobody in the household with, symptoms of Covid-19, otherwise they will be sent home.

They have advised parents that staff will be performing childcare duties, rather than teaching, as not all staff are available to teach specific year groups and others must also be available to provide online/remote learning.

The blanket closure will apply to schools in all sectors, Education Otherwise Than At School settings, all statutory nursery settings and all pre-school education in non-statutory settings.

The position will remain in place until further notice.

INTO northern secretary Gerry Murphy warned that teachers could not carry on supporting online and distance learning for pupils while simultaneously providing day care for other essential workers' children and managing their own familial and caring responsibilities.

"Principals are faced with a logistical unknown in respect to how they are to marshal their staff on Monday morning," he said.

"We have been advising members for a number of days now that those in the at-risk group or those with someone in their immediate family circle who is in the at risk group along with those displaying symptoms and pregnant members should not be attending school.

"This advice remains the same and is not superseded by the minister's letter. Our advice remains the same too regarding risk assessment concerning the circumstances in which a principal or board of governors may be compelled to close a school.

"It is important our members are protected in so far as that is possible and we continue to do what we can to ensure this. What we will not do is walk away from this engagement and leave our members exposed."

The National Association of Head Teachers last night issued guidance to its members "in an attempt to avoid chaos and unsafe environments".

It said there was no requirement for identified key worker parents to send their children to school.

"Given the very short notice of closure arrangements and the amount of information, communication and planning that is required, it may not be possible for individual schools to safely open on Monday," the union warned.