Peter Weir platform: We need to plan for scenario where we need social distancing in classroom

This week University College London published research to suggest that Northern Ireland was performing well above average in terms of remote teaching and interaction with pupils during Covid-19.

A superb testament to a great many teachers who I know have worked endlessly through this crisis and I want to thank again every educationalist who has put their heart and soul into these last 12 weeks.

We do not know the final impact of the Covid-19 crisis on children’s safety, well-being and learning, however, we do know the longer children remain out of school, the slower the recovery of lost learning.

My objective is therefore the full-time resumption of classroom-based learning for all pupils in the new term. We must plan for that scenario where the disease is under control but also for the scenario where we still need social distancing.

I know from speaking with parents and teachers, it is their desire to have children in front of teachers when the new school year starts.

The New School Day guidance focuses on social distancing and hygiene measures which have been informed by Public Health Agency (PHA) advice. The guidance has also been co-designed with school principals whose professional and practical experiences have been invaluable in informing the document.

Our priority with the education restart is, of course, to deliver a safe and effective reopening of our schools.

I fully recognise the work towards restart cannot be done without support, and this must include financial support. That is why this week I announced a package of measures to assist in the reopening of schools, to recover lost learning and to protect the more vulnerable pupils.

These measures will include an expansion of nurture units and the further funding of ‘Whole School Nurture’ approach. I have sought and obtained Executive approval to continue Free School Meals payments over the summer. I will also now extend the ‘Eat Well, Live Well’ programme, providing healthy breakfasts and lunches to over 3,000 vulnerable young people.

I am also creating a new programme called ‘Engage’ to provide literacy and numeracy support and mental health interventions for the duration of the 2020/21 academic year for primary and post-primary schools in socially deprived areas.

Provision of adequate childcare has been another key part of this work, as aligning school restart plans with childcare provision is imperative. The Childcare Recovery Plan announced by the Executive this week will ensure parents can access childcare over the next few months.

Finally, I realise it is neither practical, nor indeed would it be helpful, to be overly prescriptive about the arrangements every school must follow. Every school setting has different physical characteristics and flexibility will be key to enable schools to maximise pupil attendance.

With the key objective being the return of full-time, face-to-face teaching in the classroom for all pupils, my Department will work with principals and schools to provide any additional help and support we can give.

I fully recognise the stresses felt by teachers, parents and pupils throughout this crisis and as we face into the future would like to give my assurances that our children’s well-being and development remains at the centre of all we do.