Coronavirus: Schools to open week later than thought – and pupils must stay 3.3ft away from each-other

Most pupils are set for a return to full-time education in Northern Ireland in the autumn, after ministers agreed to cut the social distancing measure to one metre (3.3ft).
An empty classroom due to the Covid crisisAn empty classroom due to the Covid crisis
An empty classroom due to the Covid crisis

First Minister Arlene Foster said the move would enable the majority of primary and secondary schools in the Province to operate “close to normality”.

While pupils will be required to keep one metre apart, the social distancing measure will remain at two metres for teachers, ministers in the Executive have decided.

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Schools have been closed in Northern Ireland since March. The traditional summer term would normally finish at the end of June.

Teachers will now return to school on August 17. Key year groups – seven, 12 and 14 – will return a week later on August 24. The rest of the school population will go back to class at the start of September.

All primary school children, and secondary school children in younger year groups, will have to remain in protective bubbles limited to their own classes when they return.

The announcement was one of a series of lockdown relaxations announced by the Executive today.

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Ministers also detailed plans for childcare providers and child minders to resume full services as the summer progresses, with all parents being allowed to use childcare from July, not just key workers.

A business case has also been put together to continue to provide financial assistance to children eligible for free school meals over the summer, a move that will affect about 100,000 young people.

Away from childcare and education, guidance advising people in high-risk categories to shield during lockdown is to be paused at the end of July.

Mrs Foster said the plans for a return to classrooms would be kept under review during the summer in line with latest data on Covid-19.

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“I do very much welcome the progress today as a major step forward towards normality in our schools, because it has been a very tough time for our children, for parents and of course for the teachers who have been supporting them remotely,” she said.

“And I know that everyone wants to get back to classroom teaching.”

She added: “Our objective is to see a full-time return to classroom learning for all pupils as soon as possible when safe to do so.”

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill thanked teachers for their efforts during lockdown.

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“The contribution that teachers have made over the course of recent months in the most challenging circumstances has been exceptional and we really, really commend all that you have done in trying to keep our children educated throughout this period, it hasn’t been an easy journey for you all,” she said.

Education Minister Peter Weir said the reopening plans had been agreed following consultation with school leaders and trade unions.

Mr Weir is due to publish new guidance today to help schools plan for the autumn.

“Today represents a significant step forward in clarifying many of the issues that have been raised as we move towards the reopening of schools,” he said.

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He added he believed “many schools” would be able to accommodate all pupils each day.

“For those remaining schools where space is an issue, we will work with them to resolve any problems or at least maximise the number of pupils in school,” he said.

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