The LWR is Claire Madden. The Assistant LWR is Clara Bourke & HSCL officer is Claire Scott .

(Initially identified as high, medium, low)

Risks reduced as controls put in place.

1.0  COVID-19

UPDATE: Arrangements made to keep up to date with public health advice, changes to and Department of Education updates

Arrangements made to pass on this information in a timely manner to staff, pupils, parents and others as required

Follow public health guidance from HSE re hygiene and respiratory etiquette

Complete School COVID-19 Policy Statement

Return to Work Forms received and reviewed

UPDATE: Induction Training provided for new staff ensuring they ensure they have full knowledge and understanding of the following:

·       Latest up to-date advice and guidance on public health;

·       Covid-19 symptoms;

·       What to do if a staff member or pupil develops symptoms of Covid-19 while at school;

·       Outline of the Covid-19 response plan.

If a staff member is unsure about any aspect of the COVID-19 Response Plan, the associated control measures, or his/her duties, he/she should immediately seek guidance from the LWRs or Assistant LWRs.

Contact log in place

Complete checklists as required:

1.School Management

2.How to deal with a suspected case

Parents will need to be asked if their child is unwell to keep them at home. It will need to be stressed how important it is not to send a child who is unwell to school. (Aladdin, text, email)

UPDATE: 24^th February 2021: Parents of children returning in this phase will be asked by the school to complete the declaration form. This form is to be used when children are returning to the setting after any absence.

Where a child appears to be unwell in school (coughing, sneezing, high temperature): they will be brought to the isolation room by the designated person (Ms Sherlock/Mr Hayes),  parent will be contacted by phone to collect them. The child will be collected from the front door by the school office.

Staff and pupils with underlying medical conditions: their circumstances taken into account.

Protocol arriving and leaving. Sanitation stations/hand washing. Every classroom, corridors, entrances

Ensure signage and visual reminders are in place e.g. re hand washing, cough etiquette and social distancing as needed. Information on Aladdin, text, website)

Teachers to remind and reinforce the concept of physical distancing where required. Staff will need to be using the same language.

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1.0a COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT

Symptoms of COVID-19 (Information correct as of 23^rd August 2021)

In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 it is important to know and recognise the symptoms of coronavirus (which includes the DELTA variant).

Common symptoms of coronavirus include:

• a fever (high temperature – 38 degrees Celsius or above).
• a new cough – this can be any kind of cough, not just dry.
• shortness of breath or breathing difficulties.
• loss or change in your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
• Fatigue
• Aches and Pains

Other uncommon symptoms of coronavirus include:

·       sore throat

·       headaches

·       runny or stuffy noses

·       feeling sick or vomiting

·       diarrhoea

Infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 can cause illness, ranging from mild to severe, and, in some cases, can be fatal. It can take up to 14 days for symptoms to show. They can be similar to symptoms of cold and flu.

If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 (coronavirus), self-isolate (stay in your room) and phone your family doctor straight away to see if you need a free COVID-19 test.

Getting an early diagnosis means, you can get the help you need and take steps to avoid spreading the virus, if you have it.

For the complete list of symptoms, please refer to the HSE Website. Symptoms may be subject to change so regular review of the HSE Website is advised. If you do not have symptoms, you can get a free COVID-19 (coronavirus) test at a COVID-19 walk-in test centre.

1.1 Covid airborne spread

Windows and doors will be kept open to allow for good air circulation: UPDATE from DES says these should be open wide at break times – and less so when students and staff in class, to allow for comfort.

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1.2a Guidelines in case parents would not adhere to social distancing advice and not observing Covid protocols

We are reliant on the goodwill and co-operation of all parents.

Being prepared in case a child or parent is not co-operative is a matter for the Board to consider.

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1.3 Are any students or staff in the vulnerable category? Or do they have relatives with underlying health problems at home? How do we reduce their risk?

1.3a What about teachers living in households with those on the front line? How do we reduce the risk they could bring virus into school?

1.3b Staff and pupils with underlying medical conditions or staff who may be pregnant.

Staff take precautions in order to minimize transfer

Following HSE and DES recommendations.

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2.1 That there be too many children & adults to enable social distancing outside school gates/in school yard?

Parents will be asked not to congregate at the gates to talk to other parents.

UPDATE from Framework for re-opening schools 23^rd February 2021: Parent communications from the school should emphasise that there should be no congregation outside schools during this interim phase or at any stage, and that staff engagement should be requested through the school and will be provided by telephone or online.

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2.2 Congestion in school yard at arrival and at home time

·       Children from 1^st to 6^th  go straight to the back yard (designated court space for each group) in the morning. 5^th & 6^th class enter school @ 9.10am.

·       Junior Infants and Senior Infants only in front yard. Enter school at 9.10am.

·       Mr Meade & Mr Hayes to supervise senior yard carpark & entry into the yard by the back gate.

·       Mr Hogan to supervise front door gate.

Update: all children enter & leave school at same time, 9.20an and 2/3pm

Collection

6^th class children exit school grounds through back gate at 2.50pm.

Junior and Senior Infants are collected from the front yard at 1.50pm.

1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd Class leave building at 3pm by Ms Mahon’s room.

3^rd (2) leave by front door at 3pm.

4^th class leave by Ms Mc Mahon’s door at 3pm.

5^th class to exit school by Ms Mc Manus room at 2.50pm

All classes staggered leaving the school.

Update: all children enter & leave school at same time, 9.20an and 2/3pm

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2.3 Children returning from other countries outside the ‘green’ list.

All parents asked to complete a declaration (on the date of return) stating that to the best of their knowledge their children have no symptoms of Covid-19, are not in self isolation or awaiting the outcome of a test;

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Advice for parents if they have no alternative to Public Transport

• Not to use public transport if they are displaying symptoms.

• To maintain physical distancing while waiting for transport.

• To always sit in designated seating

• To use hand sanitizer on boarding the bus.

• To observe respiratory etiquette at all times while waiting for and on-board transport services.

• To disembark the bus one by one in an orderly fashion; and

•To wear a face mask or covering unless there is a medical or special needs reason for not wearing one.

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2.5 What are the concerns for children from different families carpooling?

2.6 Do parents accompany JI into their classroom on the first day?

3.1 Limiting those at entrance doors and visitors to the school

Number of people visiting school building strictly limited. Visitors to wear masks.

Update: Mask wearing no longer in place

Parents collecting children early: signing them in an out.

Martina will sign them out

Strict limits on visitors from outside

TY Work Experience students: TY co-ordinators in secondary schools will be reviewing nature of a students’ work experience in the light of Covid protocols. No TY students scheduled in first term. A number scheduled at intervals from February, however taking the students will be reviewed closer to the time and will depend of levels of Covid at that point.

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3.2 Are children allowed to leave the premises during the day for appointments and then return to school on the same day?

3.3 Congestion on corridors and on stairs.

3.4 Congestion affecting social distancing in school yard and school lobbies

Update: New flooring September 2022 – new signs to be added

Smaller class groups for Junior Infants

New floor signs added throughout whole school Sept 2023

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3.5 Congestion affecting social distancing in classroom.

One metre social distance from 3^rd to 6^th class

Learning Support & SNAs may need flexibility in their roles to assist instruction & supervision.

Rooms decluttered – lockers built in all classes for children’s individual filing.

Excess equipment to be stored in built in units

Update: Social distancing no longer in place

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3.6 Principal’s Office/ meetings with parents

Update: Mask wearing no longer in place

Mr Hogan’s room now used for meetings since air purifier installed.

Update: Ms Scott’s room (Sept 2022)

3.7 Parent Teacher Meetings

3.8 Extra Curricular Activities

2021 – Ourdoor only for term 1

Update: All extra curricular activities return to normal

4.1 Safety of classroom equipment in terms of hygiene.

4.2 Sharing of toys and equipment used (particularly with Infants and maths resources)

4.3 Can group work in all classrooms continue as it involves working in confined spaces, often sharing equipment?

All group work to take place in pods.

There may be a need for ‘distance learning’ for children with underlying conditions.

Teachers will need to have a Plan B ready in case of a pod/class being sent home or local closure.

Update: Pods no longer in place

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4.4 There is evidence that loud singing and choral singing could spread the virus

This would have implications for the playing of recorder and tin whistle too.

Teachers taking this into account and adapting their teaching accordingly.

UPDATE from the DES: Choir practices/performances and music practices/performances involving wind instruments may pose a higher level of risk and special consideration should be given to how they are held ensuring that the room is well-ventilated and the distance between performers is maintained.

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4.5 Physical Education

Sports equipment limited in use and sanitized between uses.

UPDATE from DES ‘Schools should refer to the HPSC guidance on Return to Sport. Link to return to sport protocols is found here.

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/07253-return-to-sport-protocols/ ‘

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4.6 First Aid procedures.

Teachers will wear face coverings and gloves when doing First Aid.

Update: Mask wearing no longer in place

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4.7 Fire Drills

Deep Clean to be conducted prior to return to school

Cleaning hours to be increased to 22 ½ hours a week (Amanda Fairbrother)

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5.2 What cleaning regime will be in place in each classroom?

Cleaning of surfaces, door handles and other high touch areas such as light switches, keyboards will be done by the class teachers

Extra resources required – cleaning supplies, hazard tape, PPE, posters, signage.

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5.3 Handwashing

The updated advice from the HPSC to the Department of Education has recommended that face coverings should be worn by staff members where it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of 2 metres from other staff, parents, essential visitors or pupils.  The Department has accepted this recommendation.  Accordingly, it is now a requirement for face coverings to be worn by staff members where it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of 2 metres from other staff, parents, essential visitors or pupils.

Staff should practise the proper use, donning/doffing, cleaning, storing and disposal of PPE.  

The DES say ‘It is not recommended that children attending primary school wear face-coverings’. However if a child opts to wear one on account of a vulnerable family member this is quite acceptable

Update: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/d3c55-department-of-education-guidance-on-the-use-of-face-coverings-in-primary-schools/

Children from 3^rd – 6^th to wear face coverings in school

Update: No face coverings in school

5.8 Children’s work spaces

No sharing of crayons, pencils stationery.

Children may have limited access to toys/books/manipulatives within their own group

Children have their own supply

They will not be able to share as freely as they have in previous years.

5.9 Homework: Books coming in from home and returning there for homework, perhaps carrying infection

5.10 Teachers handling copies and books belonging to children when correcting children’s work

Older children can self-correct where possible

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5.11 Shared use of laptops and ipads

The Class teacher must ensure that all the devices are cleaned down at the end of the lesson

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5.12 How to minimize transfer of virus between staff members?

How will staff breaks be organised to ensure social distancing.

All staff are to wear face coverings

Pods on the staff – class level & SEN teacher attached

What is the protocol for short term substitute teachers so it is safe to have them visiting.- Sub teachers must complete a version of the  RTW form

Air-purifier installed in hall where staff have lunch

Update: Social distancing no longer in place

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6.1

As far as is possible each SET is allocated a class level to minimize risk.

There is no mixing in SET of children from different classes within a level as far as is possible

Time spent with children slightly reduced on account of time spent cleaning chairs and desks

More individual and pair work. As far as is possible children from the same pod work together.

As far as is possible SET work with one class level. The flexibility that was possible in other years is not advisable in current circumstances.

As far as is possible SNAs work with the students they are assigned to in one class. Where SNAs take children for movement breaks, it is for a short time and outdoors. SNAs wear face coverings.

Update: No pods or face coverings in place

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