The Department of Education has developed, in discussion and agreement with the NASUWT, a roadmap for a return to school.

The four guiding principles of the plan proposed by the Department of Education are designed to prioritise the safety and security of all the children, teachers and other staff in schools, as well as the safety and security of the whole community. The four principles are as follows:

1. A gradual, slow return to schools to be achieved with a prudent pause between each step.

2. Public health advice on social distancing and hand hygiene to be respected throughout the period to the end of the summer term.

3. Children who are at a critical stage of their learning journey are brought back first, with some children being brought back to each school.

4. The Department and schools will maintain, to the extent and for as long as possible, the following services:

a. home learning for those not able to attend school;

b. childcare supervision facilities for those parents who need to work and who are unable to arrange alternative childcare without involving relatives over the age of 70;

c. extended hours for children of key workers who need to work shifts.

In assessing the rationale for the order of the year groups brought back to school first, the Department has considered every aspect of the needs of the children in different years of education.

Years 2 and 6 will be moving to a new school in September. Transition work is completed with these pupils during this term, in order to prepare them for the transition to their new school. It is critical to do some of this work with these children.

The Department has therefore decided it will start off with Year 2 attending each Lower Primary school – split up into smaller groups, together with children from other year groups who require supervision.

Additionally, Year 6 will attend each Upper Primary school - split up into smaller groups, together with children from other year groups who require supervision.

We will also have Year 6 attending the Hebrew Primary School – split up into smaller groups, together with children from other year groups who require supervision.

After careful consideration, we have decided that Year 10 students will be returning to school on the 26th May. Their return will be managed carefully, as indeed will the return of Year 2 and Year 6 pupils, with each year group being divided in half and being given specific time slots within which to attend. Arrivals and dismissals will be staggered to minimise the potential congregation of parents at the entrance and exit points.

We also feel that it is important to give all Year 12 students some contact with their teachers before the summer break. We would like to bring these students back as soon as we are in a position to do so, in-keeping with Public Health guidance and appropriate social distancing measures. The Department of Education is working hard with the teachers’ Union in order to finalise plans for Year 12. We will share the details of these plans as soon as possible.

The criteria which determines which parents will be able to send children to childcare supervision facilities will be the following:

1. Children whose parents need to work and who are unable to arrange alternative childcare without involving relatives over the age of 70;

2. Children attending St Martin’s;

3. Children not falling in categories 1 and 2 above but where there are special circumstances requiring attendance at a childcare supervision facility and this is approved by the Director of Education (for example, looked after children or vulnerable children);

4. As from 25 May, these childcare supervision facilities will be available for children of school age enrolled in Government schools who fall within one of the above categories.

Year 2 in Lower Primary; Year 6 in Upper Primary and in Hebrew Primary return to school for part of the day. Reduced hours will help with the transition back to school and will facilitate social distancing measures.

Years 2 and 6 are split into 2 halves. Half attend 10:00 - 12:00 and the other half attend 13:00 - 15:00.

Parents will be advised in advance of plans specific to their child.

Year 10 students will return to Secondary School. This group will also be split into smaller groups and students will be advised of the specific times they are required to attend.

Each Primary and Secondary school continues to receive other children in their school whose parents need to work or who otherwise fall into category 3.

Home learning will continue to be available for all year groups that have not been brought back into school. It will also continue to be delivered to those attending the childcare supervision facilities. Home learning will cease for Year 2, Year 6 and the Secondary year group that is brought back to school. Home learning platforms will be used to offer support to children who are unable to attend school.