COVID-19 Response Plan

 
1.   School COVID-19 Policy to be followed.

2.   Planning and Preparing for Return to School

3.   Lead Worker Representatives chosen

4.   Signage - information to be clearly displayed

5.   Making Changes to School Layout

6.   Health and Safety Risk Assessment

7.   Access to School and Contact Log

8.   Control Measures - To prevent Introduction and Spread of COVID-19 in Schools

9.   Impact of COVID-19 on certain school activities

10. Hygiene and Cleaning in Schools

11. Dealing with a Suspected Case of COVID-19

12. Special Educational Needs
​
13. Staff Duties

 
School COVID-19 Policy .

Signed by The Chairperson of the BOM.


Planning and Preparing for Return to School

The school has made:
  • Arrangements to keep up to date with public health advice, changes to any Government plans for the safe reopening of society and Department of Education updates; 
  • Arrangements to pass on this information in a timely manner to staff, pupils, parents and others as required; ( emails and texts sent out)
  • Ensured that staff have reviewed the training materials provided by the Department of   Education ( to be sent out by the Dept. of Ed.)
  • Provided staff with access to the Return to Work (RTW) form which is available online or from Róisín.
 
Lead Worker Representatives

  • Maitiú, Páraic

 Signage
  • Bought and displayed

 Making Changes to School Layout
  • ‘Pods’ in use in Infant- 2nd class. Physical distancing not enforced.
  • 1 metre physical distance at least between pupils. 2 metres if possible in classes 3rd-6th.
  • One class group is considered a ‘bubble’. Each class bubble will not mix with another bubble.

Health and Safety Risk Assessment
  • Normal fire-drill procedure expected. An orderly line is formed, and the nearest exit is used to exit the school building.
  • The standard First Aid/emergency procedure shall continue to apply in schools. A mask is to be used when within a 1 metre distance. PPE to be bought for administrators of First Aid.
  • A review of the existing risk assessments to consider any new risks that arise due to the school’s COVID-19 Response Plan will be made.
 
Access to School and Contact Log
  • Access to the school building will be in line with agreed school procedures
  • Arrangements for necessary visitors such as contractors and parents will be restricted to essential purposes and limited to those who have obtained prior approval from Róisín.
  • A detailed sign in/sign out log of those entering the school facilities will be maintained. The school will maintain a log of staff and pupil contacts

Management of deliveries and supplies to the school
  • All drivers are to remain in their vehicle and to follow instructions to set-down area
  • Ensure that all delivery transactions comply comply with physical distancing requirements
  • Agree a delivery protocol with suppliers
  • Arrangements to be made for paperless deliveries
  • Appropriate sanitising arrangements at set down areas (for materials and stock) at access and leaving points
 
 
Control Measures - To prevent Introduction and Spread of COVID-19 in the school
  • Staff and pupils that have symptoms are not to attend school, but to phone their doctor and to follow HSE guidance on self-isolation;  
  • Classes will not be divided in the event that a class teacher is not present.
  • Every effort will be made to find substitute teachers in the event of the teacher being absent. However, in exceptional circumstances, parents may be asked to keep their child at home on that day, if a substitute teacher can not be found.
  • Staff and pupils are not to attend school if they have been identified by the HSE as a contact for person with COVID-19 and to follow the HSE advice on restriction of movement; 
  • Staff and pupils that develop symptoms at school are to bring this to the attention of the Principal promptly
  • A designated isolation area will be identified within the school building.
  • Everyone entering the school building needs to perform hand hygiene with a hand sanitiser; 
  • Communication between parents/guardian and teachers should be via a phone call where possible.
  • Physical distancing (of 2m) should be maintained between staff and visitors where possible.
  • Pupils will not line up in the yard before school begins. Children will come into class with care and maintain a 1 metre physical distance from their peers, from 8.50-9.00.
  • Pupils will exit the school building with care and maintain a 1 metre physical distance of each other.
  • Respiratory Hygiene- good practice will be explained and expected.(This means covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your bent elbow when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately and safely into a nearby bin.)
  •  Hand Hygiene Pupils and staff should perform hand hygiene:

1. On arrival at school; 
2. Before eating or drinking;
3. After using the toilet; 
4. After playing outdoors;
5. When their hands are physically dirty;
6. When they cough or sneeze.
 
 
Visitors to the school
  • should be by prior arrangement and should be received at a specific contact point; 
  • Should remain at home if they have any Covid-19 symptoms
  • Follow the agreed Covid-19 protocols  for the school
  • Sanitize before entering the premises
  • Attendance to be recorded on entry to the school building
  • Adhere to social distancing requirements
  • Should not loiter-complete their business and leave the premises.

Impact of COVID-19 on certain school activities

 After-School Activities

·     All after-school activities are cancelled until further notice. (Doodle-Den, after-school crèche, school teams, music classes)

Yard/Supervision

  •      The classes will play in cordoned sections of the yard. Each class ‘bubble’ will not mix with another class ‘bubble’.
  •       Classes will exit their classes and walk around to the yard, and not through the school, maintaining a 1 metre gap in the line
  •       Lunch times will be altered / staggered
 


                     
   
              Clós 1  (10.30 - 10.45 and 12.00 - 12.25)

​Zone                        Class                                               

1                            Seomra 4 - Junior Infants                                     
 
2                            Seomra 3 - Junior Infants                                         

3                                   Seomra 2 - Senior Infants                                            

4                            Seomra 17- Rang 2/3                            

5                            Seomra 16- Rang 6                                 

6                             Seomra 15- Rang 5                                   

7                             Seomra 14- Rang 5                                    

8                             Seomra 5- Rang 1 
                                   
 
            Clós 2 ( 10.45 -11.00 and 12.30 - 12.55)

Zóin                              Rang

1                                  Empty

2                                 Seomra 6 - Rang 1

3                                 Seomra 8 -  Senior Infants

4                                 Seomra 9 - Rang 3

5                                 Seomra 10 -  Rang 2

6                                 Seomra 11 - Rang 6

7                                 Seomra 12 - Rang 4

8                                 Seomra 13 - Rang 4


 The school shop
  • school shop will be closed until further notice

P.E
  • Equipment must be wiped down before and after use.
  • Minimise equipment sharing and clean shared equipment between uses by different people.
  • P.E. lessons will take place outside to limit the spread of  Covid 19. Indoor lessons may take place subject to further guidance from the department of Education.
  • Swimming classes- Cancelled
  • School Teams- Cancelled
  • No drink bottles may be shared by pupils

Chess
  • The handling of the pieces must be wiped down before and after use.
  • Gathering of groups in the hall will cease for the time being.

Assembly/Cake sales/ Fancy dress occasions
  • The gathering of classes in the hall in an assembly will cease for the time being.

‘Literacy Lift-off’/ ‘Cleití’
  • Books will be given out once a week, and cleaned before and after use (by the teacher). Returned Books can be redistributed after 3 days of non-use 3. It is the school’s intention to continue with this scheme where possible.

Class group work
  • The mixing of pupils should be limited in the class, where possible.
  • Pupils should remain seated, and movement within the class should be restricted.
  • Sharing of resources (i.e pencils, crayons, rubbers, sharpeners, paper) will not be permitted. Each child must have their own pencils, rubbers, crayons, sharpeners.

Toys

  • The school will ensure a sufficient supply of toys and equipment are accessible and clean for each play pod. Toys should not be shared between each play pod.
  • Toys will be cleaned on a daily basis by the class teacher or SNA
  • Soft toys and costumes will be removed from the class
  • Toys that are visibly dirty or contaminated with blood or bodily fluids should be taken out of use for cleaning or disposal.
  • Cleaning of toys :     1. Washed with warm soapy water
                                   2. Rince the toy in clean water
                                   3. Thoroughly dry the toy.
4. Toys unsuitable for a water wash, should be      wiped with a damp cloth and dried
5. If disinfection is required, a suitable product should be used, then it should be rinsed and dried.

Art
  • Pupils should be encouraged to have their own individual art and equipment supplies
  • Brushes should be assigned to each child, and cleaned before and after use
 
Electronics
  • Shared electronic devices such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards should be cleaned between use
 
Musical equipment/Instruments
  • Instruments should not be shared between pupils and if sharing is required, the instruments should be cleaned between uses.
  • 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.

Library Policy
  • The use of the main school library by the students shall cease until further notice.
  • Where practical pupils should have their own books. Textbooks that are shared should be covered in a wipeable plastic covering that can be wiped with a suitable household cleaning agent between uses. Pupils should be encouraged to perform hand hygiene after using any shared item.
  • The classroom library: Children will be allowed one book per week, and when it is returned, it will then be wiped clean and stored until Monday and reused again.

Home work

·     There will be a mix of online and written work this year.
·     Written work shall be corrected the following week, which is in line with current guidelines.
·     There will be no homework for the first 2 weeks.

Hygiene and cleaning in schools
  • The school setting will be cleaned at least once per day. Additional cleaning should 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.
  • Staff must use and clean their own equipment and utensils (cup, cutlery, plate etc.)
  • Staff must disinfect their hands before touching utensils that may be used by others (Kettle, fridge, microwave oven, coffee maker,). A disinfectant dispenser will be stationed in the staff room.
  • Lunch time gatherings shall be spaced out and 2 metres social distancing will be observed where possible.

Cleaning/Disinfecting rooms where a pupil/staff member with suspected COVID19 was present

·     The room should be cleaned as soon as practicably possible.
·     Once the room is vacated the room should not be reused until the room has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and all surfaces are dry.
·     Disinfection only works on things that are clean. When disinfection is required it is always as well as cleaning.
·     The person assigned to cleaning should avoid touching their face while they are cleaning and should wear household gloves and a plastic apron.
·     Once the room has been cleaned and disinfected and all surfaces are dry, the room can be reused

Dealing with a suspected case of Covid-19
  • Isolate the person and give them a mask. Notify Debbie, Maitiú or Páraic to accompany the individual to the designated isolation area via the isolation route, keeping at least 2m away from the symptomatic person and also making sure that others maintain a distance of at least 2m from the symptomatic person at all times;
 
  • The teacher will clean the area the student was sitting in, and dispose of the disinfecting materials appropriately. The principal will be informed, and the classroom will be cleaned as soon as practically possible. The students will be removed while the classroom is being cleaned.
 
  • The school shop and Debbie’s office will be designated isolation areas within the school building. Pupils will  be seated in Debbie’s office in a cordoned off area, or the isolation room (previously used as the school shop).
  • If the person with the suspected case is a pupil, the parents/guardians will be contacted immediately.
  • Facilitate the person presenting with symptoms remaining in isolation if they cannot immediately go home.
  • The Parent/ guardian is asked to notify the school of their arrival and a member of staff will escort their child out the car.
  • The parent should contact their G.P. to discuss their child’s symptoms and notify the school management of the medical advice given.
  • The school will make a follow up call.
  • If the student is too unwell to go home or advice is required, contact 999 or 112 and inform them that the sick person is a Covid-19 suspect.
  • Arrange for appropriate cleaning of the isolation area and work areas involved.
  • All children who are unwell should remain at home until fully recovered.
  • In the event of your child or any family member being tested for Covid 19, your child/siblings/parents/guardians must remain at home until a result is known. Adhering HSE advice is imperative.
  • If your child tests positive, your child/siblings/parents/guardians/close contacts, must remain at home for 14 days, as per guidance of the HSE.
  • If a positive test is returned, the HSE will initiate contact tracing, and advise the school of appropriate action.
  • In the case of a staff member showing symptoms, they will go home immediately, and follow the above protocols. The individual should avoid touching people, surfaces and objects. Advice should be given to the person presenting with symptoms to cover their mouth and nose with a mask provided.
  • Cleaning procedures will followed as per protocol
  • A nominated member of staff will supervise the class.











Special Educational Needs
  • The school’s Special Education Team will be working under the current guidelines, which may result in interrupted access for the children with  Special Education Needs.
  • For children with special educational needs (SEN) maintaining physical distancing in many instances will not be practical or appropriate to implement.
  • Particular attention by parents/guardians of signs, symptoms or changes in baseline which suggests illness/COVID-19 infection and where symptoms are present children should not attend school, on those days.
  • Similarly staff should be aware of their responsibility not to attend work if they develop signs or symptoms
  • Hand hygiene Children who are unable to wash their hands by themselves should be assisted to clean their hands using soap and water or a hand sanitiser (if their hands are visibly clean).
  • Equipment: Some children may have care needs (physical or behavioural) which requires the use of aids and appliances and/or medical equipment for example toileting aids, moving and handling equipment, respiratory equipment.
  • Where cleaning of aids and appliances is carried out in the school it is recommended that a cleaning schedule is provided, detailing when and how the equipment is cleaned and the cleaning products to be used in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions.

Staff Duties
  • Staff have a statutory obligation to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of their colleagues and other parties
  • Staff are to adhere to the School COVID-19 Response Plan and the control measures outlined. 
  • Complete the RTW form before they return to work. 
  • Staff must inform the principal if there are any other circumstances relating to COVID19, not included in the form, which may need to be disclosed to facilitate their safe return to the workplace. 
  • Staff must complete COVID-19 Induction Training and any other training required prior to their return to school. 
  • Staff must be aware of, and adhere to, good hygiene and respiratory etiquette practices.  Coordinate and work with their colleagues to ensure that physical distancing is maintained. 
  • Make themselves aware of the symptoms of COVID-19 and monitor their own wellbeing.
  • Self-isolate at home and contact their GP promptly for further advice if they display any symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Staff are not to return to or attend school if they have symptoms of COVID-19 under any circumstances.  If they develop any symptoms of COVID-19 whilst within the school facility, they should adhere to the procedure outlined above. 
  • Staff should keep informed of the updated advice of the public health authorities and comply with same