The Department of Education last night issued detailed guidance to schools around re-opening arrangements on which education unions had signed off.
It was widely understood that the release of the guidance meant the way had been cleared for a phased re-opening from next Thursday January 21.
The letter stated that its purpose was “to set out in further detail the framework under which it is intended in-school teaching and learning will take place in special schools, special classes in mainstream primary schools, and for pupils with special educational needs who attend mainstream classes in primary school commencing Thursday 21st January.”
But Fórsa, which represents the SNAs, subsequently issued a statement saying that a number of issues that remained to be resolved included the safety of SNAs at high risk of Covid infection, and childcare arrangements.
Teachers and special needs assistants need to be moved up the vaccination list to ensure staff and students are safe when they return to class next week, a teachers’ union saidNorma Foley, the