Arlene Foster hints at U-turn over P1-P3 pupils reverting to home learning on March 22

The Executive announced earlier this month that P1s to P3s would return to classroom education on Monday, March 8, only to go back to home-schooling again just two weeks’ later.

The move attracted significant criticism with Jim Allister, the North Antrim MLA, labelling it “hokey cokey nonsense” and “a shameful way to treat pupils”.

Speaking at the Executive press conference on Thursday, Mrs Foster said she hopes those pupils would be able to stay in school on the week starting March 22.

Mrs Foster acknowledged other year groups also needed certainty on when they would return to school.

“For other year groups at the moment there isn’t a lot of clarity around what happens after Easter,” she said.

“And I think it’s incumbent upon us to give them some clarity on that as well.”

Mrs Foster continued: “Education and health professionals will work together on decision making timelines and will be able to advise the public at the earliest opportunity if the statistics continue to be in a good place.”

Mrs Foster said executive ministers would continue to keep the school reopening issue under “continuous review”.

“Ministers on the executive and specialist advisors all agree that school is beneficial from an educational perspective, for children’s physical and mental health and the risk to children from Covid is exceptionally small,” the DUP leader added.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill made clear that the plan agreed last week had not changed.

“To clear up any confusion, the Executive position is as was set out last week,” she said.