Covid-19

Covid-19 Information

Below is the latest information from the Department of Education, HSE and/or NPHET,

please click on the links for more information

September 2022:

The school will continue to encourage hand washing, hand sanitising, and good respiratory hygiene. Ventilation measures remain in place.

Updated Covid-19 Response Plan for schools will be published shortly by the Department of Education and will be added here when it is published.

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 Updated July 2022: School Covid-19 Logistics Plan


Although many mandatory aspects of Covid-19 infection control measures are now optional, we will continue for now with some of our safety precautions. This may be subject to change based on ongoing updated advice from the HSE and Department of Education.

 

  • The school has a responsibility to try to ensure the safety, health and well-being of all members of our school community – children, parents and staff. This plan has been formulated to better ensure that the school can exercise that duty of care.

 

  • As well as co-operation, the flexibility and goodwill of all will be required to ensure the plan can be enacted.

 

  • Hand sanitiser will continue to be available at all entry points, in all classrooms and outside all support rooms. Children will continue to sanitise/wash their hands on entry to the school, before/after each break, before they go home, before they eat, and on any other necessary occasion.

 

  • The enhanced cleaning regime from the Department of Education remains in place.


  • Ventilation measures from the Department of Education remain in place.

 


Morning:

  • For the first two weeks of the new school year, Junior and Senior Infants will enter by the front emergency exit door where they will sanitise their hands and then will be brought to their classroom by a staff member.


  • 1st – 6th class will enter the school yard and line up. Their class teacher will collect them from the school yard. On entry to their classroom they will sanitise their hands.

 

  • Drop-off time reverts to 9.10 - 9.20am.

 

  • Parents are not permitted to enter the school premises at this time and should remain outside the school grounds. No adults, other than staff members, should enter.


  • In the mornings, teachers are preparing for the school day and they cannot come outside to speak with parents at this time. Messages for teachers can be sent by email or by phoning the school office.

 

  • Drop off will be set down only. Parents are requested not to congregate at the school wall before or after drop off.

 


Collection of Children during the School Day:

If an adult has to collect a child during the course of the school day, the following arrangements will apply:


  • When the adult arrives at the school, they should either phone the office or use the intercom at the front door of the school to alert the office that they have arrived
  • The child will be brought from their class to the adult by a member of staff
  • The adult who is collecting will be asked to sign the child out
  • No adult should enter the school building, unless invited to do so by a staff member.

 


Dealing with a suspected case of Covid-19:

Pupils should not attend school if displaying any symptoms of Covid-19. If a pupil displays any symptom(s) of Covid-19, the following are the procedures that will be implemented:


  • Parents/guardians will be contacted immediately


  • The child will be accompanied to the designated isolation area via the isolation route by a member of staff


  • The staff member will remain at least 2 metres away from the symptomatic child and will also make sure that others maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from the symptomatic child at all times


  • A mask will be provided for the child presenting with symptoms, if one is available. He/she should wear the mask if in a common area with other people or while exiting the premises


  • An assessment will be made as to whether the child who is displaying symptoms can immediately be brought home by parents and call their doctor and continue self-isolation at home


  • The school will facilitate the child presenting with symptoms to remain in isolation, if they cannot immediately go home, and will assist them by calling their GP.


  • The child presenting with symptoms should be advised to cover their mouth and nose with the disposable tissue provided when they cough or sneeze and to put the tissue in the waste bag provided


  • If the child is well enough to go home, the school will arrange for them to be transported home by a family member, as soon as possible, and advise them to inform their GP by phone of their symptoms. Public transport of any kind should not be used


  • If they are too unwell to go home or advice is required, the school will contact 999 or 112 and inform them that the sick child is a Covid-19 suspect.


  • Parents are asked to collect sick children as soon as possible. Sick children cannot remain in the classroom and will be moved to the isolation room. The school cannot facilitate the supervision of one pupil by a teacher in the isolation room for an indefinite period of time.


  • Arrangements will be made for appropriate cleaning of the isolation area and work areas involved.

 




Children who should not attend school:

Children should not attend school if they are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 or if they are in any way unwell. Current HSE information states that pupils should remain at home until 48 hours after resolution of any symptoms. Please do not give your child Calpol/Nurofen etc and send them to school when they are unwell.

 




Antigen Testing:

If there is a case of Covid-19 in your child’s class, and the positive case has been in school within the infectious period as determined by the HSE (currently 48 hours prior to positive test), as the pod/bubble structure has been dissolved, all families in the class will be sent an email with details of how to order free antigen tests from the HSE. Public health advice will be sought from the HSE and followed.

 




Supporting the Learning of Children who cannot attend school:

If a child is not able to attend school for an extended period of time, the class teacher (and/or the Special Education Teacher, where relevant) will share suggested activities with parents on request for parents to support the child's learning at home.





Equipment:

It is requested that all children will bring their own pens, pencils, colours, rubbers, etc., to school in their own pencil case to avoid the sharing of equipment.

By necessity, some classroom equipment needs to be shared including tablets, laptops and the equipment used for structured activities and play in Infant classrooms. Cleaning of such shared equipment with wipes or other cleaning products will take place at regular intervals to minimise the risk of the spread of infection.

 




Face Masks:

The wearing of a face mask by any member of staff or pupil who wishes to do so will be facilitated. Staff who are attending to particular care needs or who are administering first aid will wear appropriate PPE including gloves and face masks.

 




Teacher Absence and Substitution:

In the event that a teacher is unable to attend school, every effort will be made to secure a substitute teacher for the class. If a substitute teacher is not available, the Department of Education Inspectorate will be consulted for advice. If they advise that it is not possible for the class to attend on that day, the instruction from the Inspectorate will be followed. If that is the case, as much notice as possible will be given to parents and it will only occur where all other options have been exhausted. It should be noted that there is currently a substitute teacher crisis nationally and there is a major shortage of substitute teachers.



 

PE, Outdoor Activities, External Trainers, Visitors to the school:


The Department of Education (2022) states that "the use of external coaches to support the PE curriculum remains a decision for individual Boards of Management".


  • At the present time, external trainers are permitted by the Board of Management of Shanagarry NS to return to in-school activities with permission of the Principal and Board of Management only. The school staff will operationalise this and decisions on activities taking place in the school are the remit of the Principal and teaching staff only.
  • Where possible, PE will take place outdoors and pupils will be reminded to wash/sanitise their hands both before and afterwards if using any shared school equipment and when using the hall for PE activities.
  • We will be continuing to participate in Active Flag activities.
  • External visitors to the school are currently permitted by prior appointment only and with the permission of the Board of Management (through the Principal). Current Garda vetting requirements must be adhered to.
  • Gardening and other outdoor school activities are continuing when weather permits.






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