Special schools will reopen on February 11th after agreement was reached between teachers unions and the Department of Education.
Special classes in mainstream schools will also resume 11 days later on February 22nd.
Attendances will be initially limited to 50 percent, and there will be enhanced safety measures like PPE and around class sizes.
Certainty
Minister for Education Norma Foley said: “I am pleased that we are now in a position to give certainty to children with special education needs and their families on when they can return to school.
"Learning remotely is particularly hard for these children and I am acutely conscious that the loss of the regular school routine, social interaction with friends, direct face to face access to teachers and special needs assistants as well as therapy interventions have presented a huge challenge and a real risk of regression to the learning, social, emotional development and well-being of these pupils.
“The re-opening of our schools for all students remains a top priority for Government and I am committed to working on an ongoing basis with all stakeholders to achieve this, in line with public health advice.”
Minister for Special Education Josepha Madigan said: “I welcome the progress to date on the re-opening of special education. We are moving in the right direction.
"While today’s news is a positive development, it is important to recognise the work that remains in order to ensure that in-person education is provided for every young person to whom remote learning is not suited. There are also students in mainstream education with special education needs who would benefit from in-person education and negotiations to progress this will continue."
There is now agreement to reopen special schools (at 50% capacity) on 11th Feb - and for children in special classes in mainstream primary schools to reopen on 22 Feb.
I welcome the progress to date on the re-opening of special education.
We are moving in the right direction.— Josepha Madigan ⚖️✨ (@josephamadigan) February 1, 2021
