To ask the Minister of Education to confirm (i) when his Department will provide information to parents of preschool, key stage 1 and children with special educational needs, outlining social distancing and hygiene requirements in schools; and (ii) what guidance is being provided for teachers and classroom assistants to ensure all are able to meet the needs of children starting or returning to school within the next 10-12 weeks.

My Department has established a Restart Programme to consider a range of issues relating to the safe and effective re-opening of schools. As part of this, strategic guidance has been prepared, through co-design with practitioners, on practical issues linked to a “new school day”. This guidance focuses extensively on social distancing and hygiene measures, informed by Public Health Agency advice and has a “day-one” focus. This guidance is available on the DE website and has been shared with Principals.

The New School Day guidelines are only a first step. I expect these strategic guidelines to be supplemented by further guidance on a range of issues, including specific information for supporting children with special education needs (SEN).

As part of the Restart Programme, a Vulnerable Children and SEN Services Project has been established with the primary objective to ensure that services to vulnerable children and young people including those with SEN are re-instated in a safe and effective manner when schools return to operation.

My Department is working to ensure appropriate information is available on the departmental website for a range of stakeholders including school leaders, parents / carers and children and young people.