Covid 19 Response Plan

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST GIRLS PRIMARY SCHOOL

COVID-19 SCHOOL RESPONSE PLAN

School Profile

• Approximately 330 pupils - all girls
• 13 Mainstream classes
• 4 Special Education Teachers
• 2 English As Additional Language (EAL) teacher
• Administrative Principal
• 1 full time SNA, 1 part-time SNA
• 2 shared secretaries
• 1 shared caretaker
• 3 Cleaning Staff

Challenges of re-opening

• The re-arrangement of classrooms to facilitate social distancing.
• 1 mainstream class in a smaller SET room
• 4 SET rooms available for 6 SETs
• Lack of on-site parking & drop off zones for parents/guardians
• Arrival & dismissal times with three schools on campus

Update on works completed over the summer months 

1. Repair of concrete footpath at entry to reception area of school.
2. Reception window created into the office between main external automatic doors and internal doors.  An essential component of preparing the school for our community’s return to school to aid in controlled access to the building. 
3. Installation of 2 push bar exit doors to rear of building replacing standard door
4. Integrated Fire (Life) Safety system installed (all three schools) with Summer Works grant funded by the DES. 

Human resources allocated through additional funding from DES

• Aide to help caretaker with return to school arrangements - 5 days
• Deputy Principal – 10 Leadership and Administration Days
• Access to supply panel for teacher absences

NEW PPE, consumables & equipment purchased

• Hand sanitiser station at each entry/exit point
• Hand sanitiser station in each room
• Soap dispenser in each toilet
• Z-fold paper towels and dispenser in each toilet
• Pedal bins in each toilet and classroom
• Centrefeed Blue Roll in each teaching area
• Visor for each staff member
• Disposable aprons/masks/overshoes available as required
• Food safe Anti-Bacterial Sanitiser spray in each teaching area
• Signage - outlining signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and to support good hand & respiratory hygiene

Reopening dates – Senior Infants to Sixth Class.

Each class will have ONE day induction (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday)

Rang 2 and Rang 6 ONLY on Tuesday 1^st September. These pupils will then return to school on Friday.

Rang 1, Rang 3 and Rang 4 ONLY on Wednesday 2^nd September. These pupils will then return to school on Friday.

Senior Infants and Rang 5 ONLY on Thursday 3^rd September. These pupils will then return to school on Friday.

ALL THESE CLASSES WILL COME TO SCHOOL ON Friday 4^th SEPTEMBER.

Reopening dates – Junior Infants

Revised school hours (including dropoff and collection arrangements)

To reduce congestion at the school gates school hours have been revised.

To help with reducing the amount of traffic around the school gates the Deanery School has adjusted school times to start and finish the school day earlier.

Additional parking has been provided for staff on the school grounds to allow additional space for parents to drop off/ collect children outside the school.

Children are asked to walk/cycle/scoot to school if it is at all possible.  This system will apply rain, hail or shine so please make sure that your child comes to school prepared for the weather!

Parents and pupils should maintain social distance of two metres from other adults and children while dropping off/ collecting children outside the school.

Dropoff in the morning

It will not be possible for parents/guardians to come onto the school grounds before/after school at arrival and collection times. The school grounds mean all the area inside the perimeter wall.

Children may not come onto the school grounds before 9am under any circumstances to minimise risk, and to help us to maintain physical distancing within our class bubbles on school property.

From 9am, children ONLY are to enter the school grounds (Junior Infant parents will be permitted onto the grounds for the first two weeks only)

As a further precaution, families are requested to stagger their arrival based on the information below.

All teachers & SNAs will be in school at 9am.  This arrangement will be reviewed just before the October mid-term break. 

A morning supervision timetable will be in place. 

Staff members (including class teachers, Special Education Teachers, SNAs and the Principal) will be available outside and inside the building to receive the children and to help them to their classrooms.

Remember, children will go directly to their classrooms on arrival.

Collection in the afternoon

Staggered breaktimes

Breaks will be staggered to minimise crowding on the school yard.  Pupils will remain within their class bubbles during breaks.

The yard has been divided into six separate & distinct spaces that pupils will play in outside. 

Yard supervision

A rota will be organised based on Class Bubbles and the SETs allocated to those classes.

First Aid

First aid will be administered as usual and appropriate PPE will be provided to staff administering First Aid.

Changes to classroom and school layout and to school routines

The DES guidelines recognise that a common-sense approach is needed in our primary schools. To that end, every effort will be made to limit interaction within classrooms, to limit contact between class groups and to limit the sharing of common facilities.

The children and their teachers will work in class bubbles.  A class bubble is a grouping which stays apart from other classes as much as possible. The aim of the system within the school is that class groupings mix only with their own class from arrival at school in the morning until the children go home at the end of the school day.

Junior Infants to Second Class

It is recognised that younger children are unlikely to maintain physical distance indoors so there is no requirement for children from Junior Infants to Second Class to maintain a physical distance within their class bubble.  They will, however, be in pods/groups as is normal in a younger class setting. 

Third Class to Sixth Class

Children from Third Class to Sixth Class may be arranged in pods within their class bubbles, with a maximum of 6 pupils per pod. As far as possible, each pod will be at least 1 metre distance from the next pod. Where space allows tables will spread out individually with two pupils at each table sitting at either end. All unnecessary furniture will be removed from these classrooms to create as much space as possible.

Note: As is the practice in our school Pods/table places in all classes will be rearranged periodically as deemed necessary by the class teacher.

General Purpose Room (Halla)

The GP Room will not be used for assemblies.

PE will be outdoors as much as is possible with the main focus on activities that require as little sharing of equipment as possible.

Extra time will be timetabled for every class (weather permitting) for the first term.  We will review indoor PE as the term progresses.

If & when required, the Halla will be our COVID-19 isolation area/ Sick Bay.

Assemblies

There will be no daily assembly in the school Halla. 

Corridors

We will observe our usual practice of keeping to the right when walking on the corridors.  There will be signs on the corridor floors to assist/remind pupils of social distancing.

Briefly passing someone in a hall is unlikely to contribute significantly to the spread of infection if people do not have physical contact and avoid informal group discussions.

Additional measures to limit interactions

Children will go straight to their classrooms from the yard and will not congregate in the corridors.

While we will all be delighted to see each other again, hand shaking and hugging will not be allowed.

Doors and Windows

To ensure that classrooms are well ventilated, windows must be kept open as much as possible, and will be opened while children are taking breaks in the playground.

Where practical, all internal doors will be left open to minimise hand contact with common surfaces.

Coats and Toilets

Individual class arrangements will be put in place regarding the procedures for hanging up coats.  Children can collect their coats in their pods/groups. 

Individual class arrangements will be put in place regarding the procedures for going to the toilet.

Team Teaching/Special Education Teachers/Special Needs Assistants

• Staff members (particularly SETs and SNAs) can move between areas/classes but this will be minimised. When rotation occurs, agreed sanitising routines will be observed
• In keeping with our Special Education policy, special education teaching will be provided by a blended approach of in-class support and withdrawal. The provision of support will be organised to ensure our support teachers will work as far as possible, within the confines of a bubble.
• Where a support teacher is working alongside a class teacher in a classroom, both teachers must be mindful of maintaining 2m physical distance from one another. If not possible, the teachers must wear a mask/face covering. 
• The tables and chairs in SET rooms will be wiped clean in between different pupils or small groups attending.

School bags .

All books, copies and stationary as per book list must be brought in your child’s school bag on their first day back. All these items will be left in school.

School bags must not be brought into school from your child’s second day onwards until further notice.

Lunches

Parents/guardians must make sure that children bring their lunches to school to avoid adults having to come to the school during the day. Please remind your children not to share their food or drinks with other children.

Children will eat their lunches at their desks, as per our usual practice.  Lunchboxes and water bottles are permissible but should be washed thoroughly every evening.

Books, Copies, Pencils, etc.

Children should use their own books, pens, pencils, etc. and must not share with other pupils.  All items must be labelled. 

Children will leave their pencil case (where applicable) in school.

If teachers loan pencils etc. to a pupil, they will need to be wiped down upon return. 

Homework

NO homework will be given during September. This will be reviewed during the month.

We will be exploring different online learning platforms (e.g. Class Dojo/SeeSaw/Google Classroom) that could be used when homework resumes and to ensure that we have a plan in place locally if the return to school plan changes over the coming weeks and months.

Teaching and Learning

As a staff, we are very aware that the children have been away from school since 12 March. We appreciate the time and effort that went into Home Learning, and we recognise the challenges that Home Learning presented for all families.

Each child will be in a different place in relation to her learning, and we wish to assure you that staff will take that into consideration when planning for Teaching and Learning during the 2020/2021 school year.

The Department of Education and Skills has published curriculum guidelines for us, and we ask you to trust our experience and professional expertise as we work with all the children during the return to school.

Uniforms/Tracksuits

According to health advice provided by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre there is no health issue regarding the wearing of school uniforms. Therefore, our existing school policy will apply.

As a school we strongly advise that children should wear their school uniforms or tracksuits only for school related activities.  Uniforms or tracksuits should be taken off straight after the child arrives home from school for the day.

We recommend that uniforms are washed regularly.

ICTs

A timetable will be drawn up for the use of common ICTs.  Laptops and ipads will be cleaned after every use and before they are returned to the charging trolley.    

Office

A new window has been installed to the office where visitors/parents can do the majority of their business. 

A contactless payment system has been set up to minimise the amount of cash that needs to be handled. Details will be circulated to parents on the return to school.

Parents/Guardians are asked to co-operate in helping to keep school staff safe by arranging for contactless payments through the school office.

Children should not be sent to the office or to the reception area to deliver messages.

Staff members (except for Principals/ Deputy Principals) should not enter the office area and should speak with office staff at the internal office window. Principals/ Deputy Principals will only enter the office where necessary.

Photocopying

Any staff member who uses the photocopier should clean it down after use with the wipes and/or ant-bacterial spray provided.

After School Activities

The possibility of facilitating extra-curricular activities will be explored in time. However, for now there will no after school coaching and sports activities.

Physical Education and P.E. Equipment

Physical Education lessons will take place outside when the weather allows.

Staff members and pupils may take additional breaks outside during the school day. All classes are encouraged to walk the ‘Sli na Slainte’ walk regularly.

Shared equipment must be cleaned between use.

Substitute Teachers and SNAs

A copy of the Covid-19 response plan will be provided to each substitute teacher/SNA. Substitutes will be required to complete a Pre-return to the workplace form before they enter a classroom and will be asked to confirm that they have engaged in the online Induction training.

Control Measures – To prevent the introduction of Covid-19 into the school

Awareness of Covid 19 Symptoms will be promoted among staff, pupils and parents.

Staff, pupils and parents will be aware of the protocol for managing a suspected case of COVID 19 in the school.

Arrangements for necessary visitors such as contractors and parents will be restricted to essential purposes only and limited to those with prior approval from the principal.

All necessary visitors will be received at the main school reception

Visitors to the school must perform hand hygiene with a hand sanitiser.

Physical distancing (of 2 metres) should be maintained between staff and visitors where possible.

Parent Contact with Staff

To minimise risk parents should not engage with teachers at drop off/ collection times.

All teachers have work email addresses and parents/ guardians are encouraged to use these to correspond directly with teachers.

Parents/ guardians may contact the school office and leave a message for teachers. Class teachers will return the phone call at an appropriate time if necessary.

Appointments can be made by parents/ guardians to meet staff members for essential purposes with prior approval from the principal.

Dropping off/ Collecting a child during the school day

Parents/ guardians should inform class teachers if a child will be collected/ arrive during the school day stating by whom.

Parents/guardians should go to the main school reception at the collection time and inform a member of the secretarial staff that they are colleting a pupil. A member of the secretarial staff will then go to the child’s classroom and escort the child to the door. Class teachers will keep a record of the collection in the classroom stating who collected the child and the time.

Where a child from Junior Infants to 6^th class arrives during the school a member of the secretarial staff will escort the child to the classroom. Class teachers will keep a record of the arrival in the classroom stating the time.

Please Note: Parents will not be permitted to enter the school building when dropping off or collecting a child during the school day.

Contact Log

A detailed sign/ sign out log of those entering the school facilities will be maintained.

A separate log of staff entering and exiting the school facility will be maintained.

Staffroom & meetings

All staff members should maintain a physical distance of 2 metres when they are not engaged in teaching e.g. when they are using the staffroom and arriving to work. If 2m cannot be maintained in staff groups, face coverings should be worn.

Staff meetings will be held remotely or in small groups or in large spaces to facilitate physical distancing.

A maximum of seven staff members are permitted in the staffroom at any time.

Staff members must maintain a physical distance of 2 metres when using the staffroom.

Masks should be worn in the staffroom at all times unless a staff member is eating/ drinking.

Staff members who use the water boiler, fridge etc. in the staffroom must clean them down after use with the wipes/antibacterial spray provided. Staff members must also clean staffroom tables after use.

Staff members should bring their own cups, bottles, cutlery, etc. to school and avoid sharing utensils in the staffroom as far as possible. 

Supporting Pupils at “very high risk” of COVID-19

As per DES guidance: “The Department is conscious that there may be some pupils for whom return to school at the end of August many not be appropriate because the relevant public health guidelines indicate they are at “very high risk”

Responsibility to ensure that these pupils receive appropriate support to engage adequately with learning remains with each school

Wellbeing of the School Community

We will work on the recommended five principles to support the wellbeing of all our pupils and staff. These are promoting:

• A sense of safety
• A sense of calm
• A sense of belonging and connectedness to school
• A sense of self-efficacy and school-community efficacy
• A sense of hope

Our usual practice is to provide support to pupils based on what is known as the Continuum of Support. This is a tiered system that provides Whole School and Classroom Support for all pupils, additional School Support for some pupils, and School Support plus extra targeted intervention for a few pupils with complex needs.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Staff members are not required to wear PPE. However, for a limited number of staff, PPE will need to be used occasionally or constantly due to the nature of certain work activities or work areas. This might include roles such as:

• Assisting with intimate care needs
• Where a suspected case of COVID-19 is identified while the school is in operation
• Where staff are particularly vulnerable to infection but are not on the list of those categorised as people in very high-risk groups or may be living with those who are in the very high-risk category.
• When staff members have to move between classrooms to support children with learning needs.

Appropriate PPE will be available for dealing with suspected COVID-19 cases, intimate care needs and for first aid. Where staff provide healthcare to children with medical needs in the school environment, they will apply standard precautions as per usual.

Masks & Gloves

The children are not required to wear masks or face coverings.

It is now recommended that teachers and other school staff wear face coverings, similar to those worn in shops or on public transport when a physical distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained. 

All staff members should wear a mask outside the classroom e.g. in the corridoors, at arrival/ dismissal.

A visor will be provided for each staff member for use in the classroom when a physical distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained. This is to enable pupils to see facial expression when teaching.

There is no need for the children to wear disposable gloves. They are considered inappropriate under the guidelines.

Staff members do not need to wear disposable gloves unless they are looking after a pupil’s intimate care needs or administering First Aid.

There will be an emphasis on hand hygiene rather than on the wearing of disposable gloves.

Hygiene and Cleaning

Sanitiser dispensers have been installed throughout the school e.g. at each entrance, in each classroom.

Paper towels and soap dispensers are available in all toilets and in the sinks at the back of the classrooms.  Blue paper roll dispensers will also be provided.  

Hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene will be promoted and encouraged and posters will be displayed throughout the school on how to wash your hands. Parents/guardians are asked to support the school in reinforcing this message.

In accordance with the DES guidelines, the school will be thoroughly cleaned at least once per day.  We are increasing the number of cleaners and their hours of work. Particular attention will be focused on frequently touched surfaces – door handles, handrails, chairs/arm rests, communal eating areas, sink and toilet facilities.

All staff will have access to cleaning products and will be required to maintain cleanliness of their own work area. Staff should thoroughly clean and disinfect their work area before and after use each day.

All toys and teaching resources will be cleaned regularly. Teachers will choose toys and teaching resources that are easy to clean when purchasing/ selecting classroom resources.

Waste will be collected daily from offices and other areas within the school.

Staff will clean their own equipment and utensils (cup, cutlery, plate etc.)

Illness and Dealing with a Suspected Case of COVID-19

We love to see all of our pupils at school every day. However, under the current circumstances, parents/guardians must keep children at home if they display any Covid-19 Symptoms. https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/symptoms.html

Staff must not attend school if they display any symptoms.

A designated isolation area has been created in the GP room.

If a staff member/pupil displays symptoms of COVID-19 while at school, the following procedure will be implemented:

• The pupil will be accompanied to the isolation area. A distance of 2 meters will be maintained. The person accompanying the child must also wear a face covering.
• If a pupil has a suspected case, parents/guardians will be contacted immediately by telephone. To help us in this regard, Mams and Dads are asked to make sure that their contact details are kept up to date at all times.
• Staff members who are symptomatic should immediately inform the Principal/Deputy Principal and go to the isolation area.
• A face covering will be provided to the staff member/child who is symptomatic.
• The staff member or child who is symptomatic should avoid touching people, surfaces and objects.
• If the staff member/child is well enough to go home, arrangements will be made for them to be transported home by a family member, as soon as possible.
• Anyone who is symptomatic is advised to inform their general practitioner by phone of their symptoms. Public transport of any kind should not be used to travel home.
• If the staff member/child is too unwell to go home or advice is required, the school will contact 999 or 112 and inform them that the sick person is a Covid-19 suspect.
• The isolation area and work areas will be thoroughly cleaned in line with the guidelines.
• The HSE will inform any staff/parents who have come into close contact with a diagnosed case via the contact tracing process. The HSE will contact all relevant persons where a diagnosis of COVID-19 is made. The instructions of the HSE should be followed and staff and pupil confidentiality is essential at all times.
• It is important to remember that any of us can get sick or unwell, and if we do, we need understanding and support from those around us. It is essential that anyone who feels unwell makes that known to the Principal/Deputy Principal as soon as possible.

COVID-19 Related Absence Management

COVID-19 related absences will be managed in line with agreed procedures with the Department of Education. Circular 0049/2020 - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Arrangements for Teachers and Special Needs Assistants

Pupils/ Staff Travelling abroad.

Government policy, which is based on official public health advice, continues to advise against non-essential travel oversees for everyone.

It is a requirement for anyone coming into Ireland, from locations other than those with a rating of “normal precautions” (Green), to restrict their movements for 14 days, and this includes school staff, parents and children or other students coming from abroad to attend school in Ireland.

Restricting your movements means staying indoors in one location and avoiding contact with other people and social situations as much as possible.

Teacher or SNA Absence and Substitution

If a teacher/SNA is unable to attend school, every effort will be made to secure a substitute teacher/SNA for the class/pupil. If a substitute teacher/SNA is not available, it is not appropriate for the class/pupil to be divided into groups and accommodated in other classes. In such circumstances, it may not be possible for the class/pupil to attend on that day. If that is the case, as much notice as possible will be given to parents.

Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme

Support for school staff wellbeing will be provided by Department Support Services including the PDST and CSL, as well as by the HSE’s Health Promotion Team.

An Occupational Health Strategy is in place as a supportive resource for staff in schools. The aim of the Occupational Health Strategy is to promote the health and wellbeing of employees in the workplace, with a strong focus on prevention.

The Occupational Health Strategy comprises the Employee Assistance Service and the Occupational Health Service. The Employee Assistance Service (EAS) is provided by Spectrum Life under the logo of ‘Wellbeing Together: Folláinne Le Chéile’.

A free-phone confidential helpline 1800 411 057 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and staff members are encouraged to make use of the service when the need arises.