St. Paul’s School – Covid Response Plan
Planning and Preparing for Return to School Policy

Introduction

The Board of Management of St Paul’s School aims to facilitate the return to the workplace of staff and the resumption of school-based teaching and learning for the pupils. The return to the workplace must be done safely and in strict adherence to the public health advice and guidance issued by the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills.

Details for the safe reopening of the school facility and the applicable controls are outlined in this document. Before reopening school for the 2020/21 school year, the following actions shall be taken:

• Public health advice shall be monitored and relevant information will be communicated to stakeholders;
• Induction training of staff shall be carried out;
• Staff members shall be informed of their roles and responsibilities;
• A comprehensive Risk Assessment will be in place; and
• Buildings shall be adapted to respond to current Covid-19 recommended practices.

When school reopens, the following procedures shall be in operation:
• Hygiene and cleaning shall be Covid-19 compliant;
• PPE shall be used in accordance with Department guidelines; and
• Physical distancing shall be in practice where possible

This response plan concludes with essential information for staff on responding to:
• A suspected Covid-19 case;
• Behaviour management; and
• Absence management.

Preparation for Return to School

Updates on Public Health Advice

• Arrangements will be made 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. Any information and updates will be communicated to the school community in a timely manner via Aladdin (internal school communication system) emails, post.

Induction Training

• Staff will review the training materials provided by the Department of Education before returning to work. Information shall be available here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/dd7fb-induction-training-for-reopening-schools/

All staff will undertake and complete Covid-19 Induction Training prior to returning to the school building. The aim of such training is to ensure staff have a good understanding of:

• 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.

Staff will be kept fully informed of the control measures in place in the school and their duties and responsibilities in preventing the spread of Covid-19 and will be updated with any changes to the control measures or guidance available from the public health authorities.

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 Principal, who is supported in this role by the BOM.

Procedures for Return To Work

• The Return To Work (RTW) form shall be provided to all staff. Details available in Appendix 1

Appointment of Lead Worker Representative

• A lead worker representative (LWR) shall be identified. Staff will be contacted prior to school reopening week beginning August 24 2020 to proceed with identification of Lead Worker Representative and an assistant (ALWR). Further information detailed in Appendix.

Staff Responsibilities

Staff have a statutory obligation to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of their colleagues and other parties. The cooperation and assistance of all staff is essential to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 and to protect health and safety as far as possible within the school. All staff have a key role to play in this regard and in order to facilitate a safe return to work, these duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Adhere to the St. Paul’s COVID-19 Response Plan and the control measures
• Complete the RTW form 3 days before returning to work.
• 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.
• Must complete COVID-19 Induction Training and any other training required prior to their return to school.
• 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 where possible.
• 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.
• Not 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 in Appendix 7.
• Keep informed of the updated advice of the public health authorities and comply with same.
• Staff may decide to change clothes upon arrival to and exit from school. This must be done before 9.00 am and after 3.00 pm each day.
• Ensure their area is well ventilated throughout the day

Health and Safety Risk Assessment

• Health and safety risk assessment will be updated, this process is underway and will be complete before staff return to school. All staff will be required to review this document via email as part of the induction process.

Buildings

• Caretaker has confirmed the following is complete:
o The water system has been flushed by plumbers and has been regularly run at outlets following low usage to prevent Legionella disease;
o School equipment and mechanical ventilation has been checked for signs of deterioration or damage.
• Bin collections and other essential services have resumed.
• Caretaker and LWR to ensure corridors and shared resource rooms are well ventilated
Signage
• Posters and other signage to prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 shall be displayed by Caretaker/Lead Worker Representative(s) prior to the return to school. Some posters may be created by the pupils with the assistance of staff.

Staff teams are responsible for ensuring that signage is displayed in the class and shared area and if they become damaged to report same to the LWR/ALWR.

Reorganisation of Space

• Class teams will make necessary changes to the classroom and shared areas to support physical distancing prior to school return.
• Unnecessary clutter will be removed by the class teams to facilitate ongoing cleaning of the school taking into account the importance of having educational materials to create a stimulating learning environment.

School Operating Procedures

Physical distancing

It is recognised that it is not always possible for staff to maintain physical distance from pupils in their pod or bubble and it is not appropriate that they would be expected to do so However, where possible staff should avoid close contact at face to face level remaining standing or sitting behind rather than sitting directly in front or beside. As directed by DES, staff shall wear masks and/or visors and adhere to physical distancing when outside of their pod.

Additional measures to decrease interaction include:

o Interaction amongst staff will be limited to their pod and only when necessary amongst their bubble.
o Social physical contact (hand to hand greetings, hugs) shall be discouraged.
o All shared resource rooms will be timetabled eg Library, Assembly Hall, Playground, Sensory Studio.
o The Multi-Sensory Room will be used only by pupils who have been identified by the class team and Principal/Deputy Principal as having the greatest need.
o Shared resource rooms will be used by one pod at a time and disinfected by a pod member once finished
o Staff and pupils will avoid sharing of personal items.
o Keyboards and iPods, the contact surface of the device will be cleaned regularly and hand hygiene encouraged.
o Disposable wipes shall be kept next to communal phones to be used prior to and following a call
o Internal post shall be collected outside of the secretary’s office
o Contact with the secretary shall be made via phone, email, Aladdin or glass partition when possible
o Contact with other classes shall not be made in person
o Any unavoidable contact with persons outside the bubble will be recorded by a member of the class team.
o Pupil snacks will be collected by staff during the morning.

Visitor Protocol

• Access to the school building will be in line with agreed school procedures.
• A detailed sign in/sign out log of visitors entering the school facilities shall be maintained by the school secretary
• Everyone entering the school building must hand sanitise
• Visitors to the school during the day should be by prior arrangement with the secretary
• Physical distancing (of 2m) should be maintained between staff and visitors where possible.

Appendix 3 contains a sample of St Paul’s contacts logs for staff and visitors. Appendix 4 contains an Addendum to the GDPR Policy.

Class Interaction

Classes (Pods) will be paired with a partner class (Bubble). All interactions including break times, supervision and staff absence insofar as is possible will be restricted to the two classes and staff pairing. In this way contact will be restricted during the day to max 16 pupils and 6 adults in most cases, through the use of modified timetables.

It is very likely that absences will be higher for the 2020/2021 year as a result of the risk of COVID-19. At all times a substitute teacher will be sought so the class timetable can continue as normal. However, if a substitute teacher cannot be found, the paired class teacher will allocate one of her class SNAs to assist. The teacher will divide her attention between both classes to safely manage the situation. In the event of an SNAs absence and a sub is not available, one SNA (from the class with the teacher) will be assigned to assist with the duties in the paired class.

In the event of behaviour escalation, staff are asked to work in the paired Bubble situation in order to support each other in class management and behaviour support. If a pod needs to exit they are asked to exit to their paired class and staff to manage the situation in the first instance within this cohort. If behaviour escalates beyond what can be managed, staff will be asked to call the Deputy Principal or Principal to assist.

On Health and Safety grounds staff capacity/designated space limits the school’s ability to supervise pupils who escalate to higher levels of behaviour for extended periods of time. Escalated behaviours for a significant period of time pose a risk to the Health and Safety of pupil/peers and staff. Where this occurs and all the steps in the policy/plan have been followed a combination of school based/blended learning will be put in place to ensure all pupils can access a full curriculum.

School drop off/collection

Parents and Guardians bringing their children to school will be asked to remain in their car until a staff member can bring their child into the school. Staff will be available from 9.00am and again from 2.40 pm for collection. Parents/guardians are not allowed into the school building and are requested to maintain social distancing in the school car park.

School Transport

All buses/taxis will now park in front of the school. Hillcrest is no longer available as a drop-off or collection point. On arrival to school staff will be available from 9am to collect pupil from his/her Escort at the front door. If the Escort is an SNA in St Paul’s she/he will bring the child to his/her classroom or Assembly hall. Parents and other escorts are asked to wait in their car/bus until invited by a staff member to come to the entrance of the school building.

Dismissal will commence at 2.40 pm. Parents, Guardians and non-St. Paul’s bus escorts will be asked to wait until the child is brought to them. Drop-offs and collections will be monitored and altered as necessary over the next few weeks.
All pupils entering and exiting the school will receive hand sanitisation.

Staff Contact

To preserve social distancing staff from the same pod will be allocated a break time which must be adhered to. All staff will be required to bring their own cup/plate/cutlery every day. No personal crockery is to be left in the staffroom. All staff are required to sanitise their own area/kettle handles table etc before and after use and to sanitise hands on entry/exit.

Secretary’s Office

Staff and children shall only enter the office by prior agreement with the school secretary. The pigeon holes shall be moved to the store room where out-going post can be left. All contact made with the secretary should be done via phone or email or through the glass partition at reception.

Photocopying

There shall be 2 photocopiers for staff use.
All classes upstairs will use the photocopier now located outside the Resource room.
All classes downstairs shall use the photocopier now located in the Store room in the office corridor. No more than one person should queue at a minimum 2 m distance. On completion of use of the photocopier, staff are asked to sanitise all areas touched. Staff are asked to keep to their assigned photocopier where possible.

Rosters

Rosters for each shared resource(the P.E. hall etc)will be decided on prior to the children’s return. Pods are asked to adhere to these times rigidly as any tardiness may have a domino effect.

Hygiene and Cleaning

Respiratory hygiene

In order to ensure that everyone follows good respiratory hygiene, all classes will have small covered pedal bins with liners to be used for disposal of waste. These must be emptied when full, into the correct bin outside. Staff are asked to tie the top of the liner securely and replace with a new one after emptying. A number of liners will be available from the from the stores cupboards for all classes.

Hand hygiene

Staff are responsible for promoting good hygiene in the classroom and throughout the school. Posters about hand hygiene are displayed at all handwash points. Staff are responsible for replacing these in their class bathrooms if they become damaged or torn. Pupils will be encouraged to follow staff example and the following HSE guidelines on handwashing:

https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/how-to-wash-your-hands.html

All pupils/staff should wash/sanitise their hands on entry/exit to class and throughout the day. Hands should also be washed after sneezing, coughing, handling of bins etc. Soap and paper towels are available in all bathrooms. Staff toilets are for staff use only expect in exceptional circumstances.

Cleaning Products

All classes have access to hot water and cleaning products. Cloths will be washed daily. All cleaning products must be out of pupil’s reach. Staff must sanitise the work area throughout the day ensuring that cleaning products are disposed of safely.

McKechnies School Cleaners

McKechnie’s staff are coming into the school prior to reopening to conduct a deep clean.
The cleaning hours have been increased from 45 hours a week to 52.5 hours a week for a trial period. It will be reviewed after the first week in September and adjusted if necessary. The cleaners are tasked with cleaning the main school building as the Hillcrest building is no longer in use. Every area which is in use in the school will be cleaned daily. There will be emphasis on cleaning frequently touched surfaces particularly in common areas; doors and door handles, locks, keypads, handrails and hand sanitiser units. Cleaners will also clean down chairs, tables, worktops and equipment in the staff room. More time will be taken up collecting the increased number of bins in the school.

Shared Resources

PE Equipment

Where possible bubbles will keep equipment between them to reduce risk of contamination. Equipment used must be sanitised before and after use. On the return to school staff may take allocated equipment and any additional items needed will be ordered as soon as possible.

Play Equipment

Safe use of the equipment is mandatory, pupils must wash their hands before and after break times/yard times and walks outside. Cleaning procedure for toys is available in Appendix 6

PPE

Guidance will be updated from the DES/HSEwebsites frequently. Disposable masks and visors shall be provided for all staff as they shall need to wear them for the majority of the school day. Masks must be disposed of following a single use. Visors must be kept in good condition, cleaned daily and not shared. Staff are welcome to wear and maintain their own mask/visors Please note Intimate Care/First Aid protocols and use of PPE apply as per standard procedure.

Additional Staff Information

Dealing with a suspected case of COVID-19

Full procedures regarding what to do in the event of a suspected case of Covid-19 is available in the Appendix 7, including the correct cleaning procedure.

Behaviour Management

Positive re-enforcement is used throughout the school. When it is deemed appropriate a written positive behaviour plan will be put in place for an individual pupil. This plan details the system of responses that have been agreed on depending on the behaviour in question. All staff have had DYNAMIS for restrictive practice interventions.

Absence Management

The management of a COVID-19 related absence will be managed in line with agreed procedures with the Department of Education.

Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme

The Department recognises the need for school staff wellbeing and collective self-care. Support for school staff wellbeing will be provided by Department Support Services including the PDST (Professional Development Services for Teachers) and CSL (Centre for School Leadership), 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’.

Under the EAS, employees have a dedicated free-phone confidential helpline 1800 411 057 available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year providing advice on a range of issues such as wellbeing, legal, financial, mediation, management support etc. Where required, short-term counselling is available to employees and their families (over the age of 18 years and living at home). A bespoke wellbeing portal and app which offers access to podcasts and blogs on topics around wellbeing and mental health, family life, exercise and nutrition is also available. In addition, online cognitive behavioural therapy is provided. As part of the services provided by Spectrum. Life a Mental Health Promotion Manager is available to develop and deliver evidence based mental health and wellbeing initiatives to reduce stigma and improve mental health literacy and to increase engagement with the service. They will also be providing a series of webinars and presentations to promote staff wellbeing in schools as schools reopen and during the upcoming school year.

First Aid/Emergency Procedure

The standard First Aid/emergency procedure shall continue to apply in St. Paul’s. The school nurses should be contacted by mobile phone at all times. The nurse’s office is now located on the first floor at the end of the senior corridor, adjacent to the current staffroom

Mandatory Checklists (Appendices)

• Management Checklist
• LWR Checklist
• Cleaning Checklist

Ratified by BOM on: ______________________
Signed:_________________
Jerry Corkery
Chairperson

Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed in line with additional guidelines/changes to Public Health Policy and Department requirements. For these purposes this policy must be regarded as a live document and is subject to frequent modification.

Appendix 1
Pre-Return to Work Questionnaire COVID-19
This questionnaire must be completed by staff at least 3 days in advance of returning to work.
If the answer is Yes to any of the below questions, you are advised to seek medical advice before returning to work.

Name: ________________________ Date: ________________

Questions YES NO

1.

Do you have symptoms of cough, fever, high temperature, sore throat, runny nose, breathlessness or flu like symptoms now or in the past 14 days?

2.
Have you been diagnosed with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection in the last 14 days?

3. Have you been advised by the HSE that you are you a close contact of a person who is a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days?

4.
Have you been advised by a doctor to self-isolate at this time?

5.
Have you been advised by a doctor to cocoon at this time?
6.
Have you been advised by your doctor that you are in the very high risk group?
If yes, please liaise with Principal re return to work and follow the agreed DES arrangements for very high risk groups

I confirm, to the best of my knowledge that I have no symptoms of COVID-19, am not self-isolating or awaiting results of a COVID-19 test and have not been advised to restrict my movements.
Please note: The school is collecting this sensitive personal data for the purposes of maintaining safety within the workplace in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legal basis for collecting this data is based on vital public health interests and maintaining occupational health and this data will be held securely in line with our retention policy.

Signed: ______________________________________

Appendix 2
Procedure for Returning to Work (RTW)

In order to return to the workplace, staff must complete a Return to Work (RTW) form, which is available online or from the Principal-See Appendix 1

A RTW form should be completed and returned 3 days before returning to work.

There are some school staff who may be unable to return to school. Current public health guidelines have identified these people as being in groups who are defined as being at very high risk. This will be updated in line with public health advice.

People at very high risk (extremely vulnerable):
The list of people in very high risk groups include people who:
• are over 70 years of age – even if fit and well
• have had an organ transplant
• are undergoing active chemotherapy for cancer
• are having radical radiotherapy for lung cancer
• have cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
• are having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
• are having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
• have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
• have severe respiratory conditions including cystic fibrosis, severe asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, lung fibrosis, interstitial lung disease and severe COPD
• have a condition that means they have a very high risk of getting infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell)
• are taking medicine that makes you much more likely to get infections (such as high doses of steroids or immunosuppression therapies)
• have a serious heart condition and are pregnant

The advice for this group is available from the HSE. Arrangements that will apply for these staff is detailed in Circular 0049/20
The RTW form is available to all staff in the appendix and should be completed 3 days prior to return to school. Staff in the high risk category should keep up to date with Department guidelines in this area and also consult their GP for advice if needed. All staff are requested to comply with Department guidance on this matter in the interests of Health and Safety for themselves and the school community.

Appendix 3

Contact Tracing Log
Name of School St Paul’s School School Contact Person Mandy O Leary Hegarty
Address of School Beech Hill
Montenotte
Cork For Queries only:
Phone No 021 4551318
Email secretary@stpss.ie
Name of Visitor Was the visit pre-arranged with the Principal?
Yes  No 
Date of Visit __ __ / __ __ /___ ___ Time Entry
to school __________ am  pm  Exit
from School __________ am  pm 
Visitor Status Contractor  Parent/Guardian  Other  Please complete: _______________________________________
Contact details of visitor Company Name
(if applicable)
Address

Contact No. Email Address
Reason for Visit
Who the visitor met (separate line required for each person the visitor met)
Name of Person visited Length of time spent with each person in the school

Appendix 4
Addendum to the Data Protection Policy Re COVID 19 Protocols

This addendum confirms additional protocols related to COVID19 Response Planning, their purpose and the considerations of GDPR Legislation.
At this time 20/08/2020 School Management are required to put in place the following procedures to protect the Health and Safety of Staff and Pupils within the school.
1. Contact Tracing Log
2. Return to Work Form
Temperature Testing is not required at this time, however subject to Public Health Guidance and Department Requirements may be included in the protocols if deemed mandatory by the relevant Public Health and Government Agencies. St Paul’s School BOM will be compliant in this regard if required.

Contact Tracing Logs
The Protocol recommends that employers keep a log of contact/group work to facilitate contact tracing. The DBEI’s explanatory guidance clarifies that:
“A Log of Contact/Group Work should be maintained by Employers for Workers who are in close contact for extended periods of the work shift (e.g. working together in spaces where social distancing guidelines may be difficult to maintain). The meaning of close contact here should be based on guidance issued by the Public Health Authorities.”
The DBEI’s explanatory guidance further clarifies that the purpose of the contact-tracing log is to facilitate the HSE’s official contact-tracing procedures and to act as a memory aid for employees in providing relevant information relating to close contacts in the event of a COVID-19 diagnosis. Personal data held in a contact log should generally not be processed by an employer for any other purpose. Employers should avoid disclosing information relating to a particular employee’s COVID-19 diagnosis to other employees. The data should be retained only for as long as considered necessary for this purpose.

Return to Work Form

The Protocol recommends that employers establish and issue a pre-return to work form for employees to complete at least three days in advance of their planned return to work. The DBEI’s explanatory guidance clarifies the objective of the form as follows:
“The purpose of this Form is to highlight to Workers the symptoms of COVID-19 before they enter the Workplace and potentially put themselves or others at risk of infection, and to allow Employers to make informed decisions about employee’s return to the workplace.”
Return to work forms should be tailored such that they collect the minimum information necessary to achieve the above objective and should generally not be processed for any other purposes. The DBEI explanatory guidance advises that the form should not be retained once an employee has returned to the workplace.

Temperature Testing

The Protocol recommends that employers implement temperature testing “in line with Public Health advice”. The DBEI’s explanatory guidance clarifies that:
“This measure should only be introduced by Employers in line with Public Health advice. The recording of temperature checks with the names or images of Workers is not required. The purpose of taking a Worker’s temperature is to let the Worker know if they have a raised temperature which is one of the symptoms of possible COVID-19 infection. Temperature testing should only be conducted in line with current public health advice.”
The DPC is not aware of any current Public Health advice recommending the implementation of temperature testing in the workplace. Accordingly, temperature testing should not be considered a requirement of the Protocol at this time. Employers currently considering the implementation of temperature testing as a COVID19 response measure, perhaps in the context of a particularly high-risk workplace and in response to a particular risk that has been identified, must be in a position to justify why any consequent processing of personal data is necessary for the purpose of mitigating against the identified risk. In general, the advice of the public health authorities, in this respect, will be a key element in the assessment of the necessity and proportionality of the implementation of such a measure. Where such measures are under consideration, employers should remember to consider whether a Data Protection Impact Assessment (“DPIA”) might need to be carried out before any personal data is processed in conjunction with the measure.

Related Documents/Policies
Health and Safety Statement
Data Protection Policy
COVID 19 Risk Assessment
Public Health Advice
Government Advice/Documents
Department of Education and Skills Advice/Requirements

Appendix 5
Lead Worker Representative –Special Schools
The COVID-19 Return to Work Safely Protocol is designed to support employers and workers to put measures in place that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The Protocol was developed following discussion and agreement between the Government, Trade Unions and Employers at the Labour Employer Economic Forum.

The Protocol provides for the appointment of a Lead Worker Representative (LWR) in each workplace. The LWR will work in collaboration with the employer to assist in the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of COVID -19 and monitor adherence to those measures and to be involved in communicating the health advice around COVID-19 in the workplace.

The purpose of this section is to set out the provisions in respect of the LWR in schools. The operation of these arrangements will be kept under review by the parties.

This document should be read in conjunction with:

• the COVID-19 Return to Work Safely Protocol;
• the Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during COVID-19;
• COVID-19 Response Plan for Primary and Special Schools (available on the Department of Education website).

1. Collaborative Approach
Responsibility for the development and implementation of the COVID-19 Response Plan and the associated control measures lies primarily with the Board of Management/ Education and Training Board and school management.

Strong communication and a shared collaborative approach is key to protecting against the spread of COVID-19 in schools, and looking after the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and students. Adherence to the Return to Work Protocol will only be achieved if everyone has a shared responsibility in implementing the measures contained within the Protocol in their place of work.

If a staff member has any concerns or observations in relation to the COVID-19 Response Plan, control measures or the adherence to such measures by staff, students or others, they should contact the LWR who will engage with school management.

2. Role of the Lead Worker Representative
In summary, the role of the LWR is to:

• Represent all staff in the workplace regardless of role, and be aware of specific issues that may arise in respect of different staff cohorts;
• Work collaboratively with school management to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare of employees in relation to COVID-19;
• Keep up to date with the latest COVID-19 public health advice;
• In conjunction with school management, promote good hygiene practices such as washing hands regularly and maintaining good respiratory etiquette along with maintaining social distancing in accordance with public health advice;
• Assist school management with the implementation of measures to suppress COVID-19 in the workplace in line with the Return to Work Safely Protocol and current public health advice;
• In conjunction with school management, monitor adherence to measures put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19;
• Conduct regular reviews of safety measures;
• Report any issues of concern immediately to school management and keep records of such issues and actions taken to rectify them;
• Consult with the school management on the school’s COVID-19 Response Plan in the event of someone developing COVID-19 while in school including the location of an isolation area and a safe route to that area;
• Following any incident assess with the school management any follow up action that is required;
• Consult with colleagues on matters relating to COVID-19 in the workplace;
• Make representations to school management on behalf of their colleagues on matters relating to COVID-19 in the workplace.

3. What can a Lead Worker Representative Do?
The LWR may consult with, and make representations to, school management on any issue of concern in relation to COVID-19. These include issues in relation to:
• Cleaning protocols and their implementation
• Physical Distancing
• Implementation of one-way systems in the school to ensure social distancing including when entering and exiting the school
• Hand Hygiene facilities including their location and whether they are stocked and maintained
• Hand sanitising
• Staff awareness around hand hygiene in the school
• Respiratory hygiene
• Personal Protective Equipment
• At Risk Groups
• Visitors/Contractors

4. Lead Worker Representative
Every school will appoint one Lead Worker Representative.

5. Deputy Lead Worker Representative/ Assistant Lead Worker Representative

In schools with less than 30 staff, a Deputy Lead Worker Representative will be appointed in addition to the LWR. The role of the Deputy LWR will be to deputise as LWR where the LWR is absent.

In schools with 30 or more staff and in all Special schools, an Assistant Lead Worker Representative will be appointed in addition to the LWR. The role of the Assistant LWR will be to:

• assist the LWR in their duties as set out above; and
• deputise as LWR where the LWR is absent

6. Selection of Lead Worker Representative/ Deputy LWR/ Assistant LWR
The school staff are entitled to select staff members for the LWR, Deputy LWR and Assistant LWR positions as appropriate. The LWR/ Deputy LWR/ Assistant LWR represents all staff in the workplace regardless of role and must be aware of specific issues that may arise in respect of different staff cohorts. In this regard, if a teacher is selected for the role of LWR, then the Deputy LWR/ Assistant LWR should be selected from the non-teaching staff where feasible and vice versa.

The process for the selection and appointment of the LWR/ Deputy LWR/ Assistant LWR as appropriate should be arrived at by consultation and consensus at school level, through the seeking of volunteers to act in that capacity. Where there is more than one volunteer, all school staff should vote to select the LWR/ Deputy LWR/ Assistant LWR.

The LWR/ Deputy LWR/ Assistant LWR will, following selection by the school staff, be formally appointed by the employer. LWR/ Deputy LWR/ Assistant LWR will be required to confirm, prior to taking up the role, that they have completed the provided training and that they are fully aware of the requirements of the role.

7. Supports for the Lead Worker Representative/ Deputy LWR/ Assistant LWR

The LWR/ Deputy LWR/ Assistant LWR shall be entitled to:

• Receive information and training in respect of their role [further detail to be provided];
• Be consulted by school management on the control measures being put in place by the school to minimise the risk of being exposed to COVID-19;
• Regular communication with school management on issues related to COVID-19;
• Be informed of changes in practice arising from COVID-19 response measures;

Where the LWR/ Assistant LWR is a teacher (including a postholder), the 10 Croke Park hours which can currently be used for planning on other than a whole school basis will be utilised by the LWR and Assistant LWR to carry out their duties in that role.

Where the LWR/ Assistant LWR is an SNA, 10 of the “72 hours” will be utilised by the LWR and Assistant LWR to carry out their duties in that role.

Where the LWR/ Assistant LWR is a Secretary or Caretaker, a re-prioritisation of duties by school management should be carried out to afford the staff member sufficient time to carry out their duties in that role.

8. Procedure for dealing with issues that arise

Where an issue of concern is identified by the LWR (or is notified to the LWR by a staff member), the LWR should bring this to the attention of the Principal. Action points for addressing the issue should where possible be agreed between the LWR and the Principal. Staff should be informed of the outcome.

If agreement cannot be reached, the LWR may notify the Board of Management (Chairperson of the BoM in the first instance)/ Education and Training Board head office of the issue. Action points for addressing the issue should where possible be agreed between the LWR and the BoM/ETB head office. Staff should be informed of the outcome.

Glossary of Terms
• COVID-19 Response Plan: plan designed to support the staff and BOM/ ETB in putting measures in place that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the school environment. The plan details the policies and practices necessary for a school to meet the Return to Work Safely Protocol, the Department of Education plan for school reopening and to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in the school environment. COVID-19 Response Plans for Primary and Special Schools are available on the Department’s website.

• Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF): the forum for high level dialogue between Government, Trade Union and Employer representatives on matters of strategic national importance – involves the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Government & Employers.

• Return to Work Protocol: national protocol designed to support employers and workers to put measures in place that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

• Safety Representative: Section 25 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 sets out the selection and role of the Safety Representative in the workplace. The rights of the Safety Representative are set out in legislation. (Note: A Safety Representative has rights and not duties under the 2005 Act). This role is separate to the LWR under COVID-19.

Date:20th August 2020

Appendix 6
Cleaning Procedure for Toys
• Wash the toy in warm soapy water, using a brush to get into crevices.
• Rinse the toy in clean water.
• Thoroughly dry the toy.
• Some hard plastic toys may be suitable for cleaning in the dishwasher.
• Toys that cannot be immersed in water that is electronic or wind up should be wiped with a damp cloth and dried.
• In some situations toys/equipment may need to be disinfected following cleaning for example: toys/equipment that pupils place in their mouths. Toys/equipment that have been soiled with blood or body fluids or toys where a case of COVID-19 has been identified.
• If disinfection is required: A chlorine releasing disinfectant should be used diluted to a concentration of 1,000ppm available chlorine. The item should be rinsed and dried thoroughly.

Art – Where possible pupils should be encouraged to have their own individual art and equipment supplies.
Electronics – Shared electronic devices such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards should be cleaned between use and consideration could be given to the use of wipeable covers for electronics to facilitate cleaning.
Musical Equipment/Instruments – To the greatest extent possible, instruments should not be shared between pupils and if sharing is required, the instruments should be cleaned between uses.
Library Policy –.Where practical, pupils should have stories read to them by the teacher Books that are shared should have a wipeable 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.
Shared Sports Equipment – In general equipment is to be kept for use within a bubble.

Appendix 7

Dealing with a Suspected Case of COVID-19

Staff or pupils should not attend school if displaying any symptoms of COVID-19.

The following outlines how a school should deal with a suspected case that may arise in a school setting.

The previously used nurse’s office in Hillcrest Prefab at the back of the school shall be the current designated isolation area. Should more than one pupil or staff member display signs of COVID-19, the room previously identified as the White S class in the Hillcrest Prefab shall be designated as a secondary isolation area.

If a pupil displays symptoms of COVID-19 while at school the following are the procedures to be implemented:
• A staff member from the pupil’s pod shall ensure he/she is wearing a mask and accompany the pupil to Hillcrest keeping at least 2m away from the pupil when possible and also making sure that others maintain a distance of at least 2m from the symptomatic person while in transition.
• A remaining Pod member immediately contacts the nurse to request her presence in Hillcrest to assess the pupil.
• Remember that the virus is spread by droplets and is not airborne so physical separation is enough to reduce the risk of spread to others even if they are in the same room.
• The pod member accompanying the pupil follows the nurse’s directions as to the next step.
• Once the pupil leaves the Isolation Area in Hillcrest it will be cleaned by the Pod member accompanying the pupil
• Pod member assigned to cleaning should avoid touching their face while they are cleaning and should wear household gloves and a plastic apron.
• Confirmation is pending on McKechnies doing a deep clean in the Isolation Area that evening
• 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.
• An assessment of the incident will be completed by those involved which will determine future actions

If a staff member displays symptoms of COVID-19 while at school the following are the procedures to be implemented:
• The staff member immediately goes to Hillcrest for assessment by the nurse, keeping a 2m distance from all people when transitioning
• The individual should avoid touching people, surfaces and objects
• Advice will be given to the person presenting with symptoms to cover their mouth and nose with the disposable tissue provided when they cough or sneeze and put the tissue in the waste bag provided
• If the person is well enough to go home, arrange for them to be transported home by a family member as soon as possible and advise them to inform their general practitioner by phone of their symptoms. Public transport of any kind should not be used
• If they are too unwell to go home, the nurse shall contact 999 and inform them that the sick person is a Covid-19 suspect and follow their recommendations
• Once the staff member leaves the Isolation Area in Hillcrest it will be cleaned by a fellow Pod member
• Pod member assigned to cleaning should avoid touching their face while they are cleaning and should wear household gloves and a plastic apron.
• Confirmation is pending on McKechnies doing a deep clean in the Isolation Area that evening
• 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.
• An assessment of the incident will be completed by those involved which will determine future actions

Cleaning/Disinfecting rooms where a pupil/staff member with suspected COVID-19 was present :

If notified after school, the contract cleaners will complete a full clean of the area 24 hours after the Isolation Room has been vacated. It shall not be reused until the room has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and all surfaces are dry.
Contract cleaners will complete a full clean/disinfecting of the area in the evening after school finishes.
If a pupil or staff diagnosed with COVID-19 spent time in a Shared Resource area or if they used the toilet or bathroom facilities, then the areas should be cleaned as outlined above as soon as possible. All areas will be thoroughly cleaned by contract cleaners after school closes.

Appendix 8
Checklist for School Management

Composite Checklist for Schools
This checklist supports planning and preparation, control measures and induction needed to support a safe return to school for pupils, staff, parents and others.
For completion by the agreed person with overall responsibility of managing the implementation of the COVID-19 Response plan in line with the supports as agreed with Department of Education.
Planning and Systems
1. Is there a system in place to keep up to date with the latest advice from Government and Department of Education, to ensure that advice is made available in a timely manner to staff and pupils and to adjust your plans and procedures in line with that advice?
2. Have you prepared a school COVID-19 response plan and made it available to staff and pupils?
3. Have you a system in place to provide staff and pupils with information and guidance on the measures that have been put in place to help prevent the spread of the virus and what is expected of them?
4. Have you displayed the COVID-19 posters in suitable locations highlighting the signs and symptoms of COVID-19?
5. Have you told staff of the purpose of the COVID-19 contact log?
6. Have you a COVID-19 contact log in place to support HSE tracing efforts if required?
7. Have you informed staff on the measures and provided a system for them to raise issues or concerns and to have them responded to?
8. Have you reviewed and updated risk assessments in line with DES advice to take account of any controls to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
9. Have you updated emergency plans, if necessary to take account of the COVID-19 response plan?

Staff
10. Have you made available to each staff member a COVID-19 return-to-work form to be completed and returned 3 days before they return to the workplace?
11. Are you aware of staff members who are at very high risk under the HSE guidance on people most at risk (HSE guidance on people most at-risk) and advised them of the DES agreed arrangements for management of those staff?
12. Have you advised staff and pupils they must stay at home if sick or if they have any symptoms of COVID-19?
13. Have you told staff and pupils what to do and what to expect if they start to develop symptoms of COVID-19 in school, including where the isolation area is?
14. Have you advised staff of the availability of the supports of the occupational health and wellbeing programme through Spectrum Life?
15. Has a lead worker representative been identified (in line with the process agreed with the DES and education partners) and detailed at Section 4.3 of this plan to help advise staff and to monitor compliance with COVID-19 control measures in the school and taken measures to ensure all staff know who the representative is?
Training and Induction
16. Have you advised staff to view the Department of Education’s training materials which are available online?
17. Have you taken the necessary steps to update your school induction / familiarisation training to include any additional information relating to COVID-19 for your school?
18. Have first aiders, if available, been given updated training on infection prevention and control re: hand hygiene and use of PPE as appropriate? (It is intended that training will be provided as part of the Department’s online training programme).
Buildings / Equipment
19. If you have mechanical ventilation does it need cleaning or maintenance before the school reopens?
20. Does your water system need flushing at outlets following low usage to prevent Legionnaire’s Disease?
21. Have you visually checked, or had someone check, all equipment in the school for signs of deterioration or damage before being used again?
22. Have you arranged for the school, including all equipment, desks, benches, doors and frequent touched surfaces points, to be cleaned before reopening?
Control Measures in place
Hand / respiratory hygiene
23. Have you accessed supplies of hand sanitisers and any necessary PPE equipment in line with the interim HPSC health guidance relating to the reopening of schools, from the national framework provided by the Department? (RFI published and framework available from early August).
24. Are there hand washing/hand sanitising stations in place to accommodate staff, pupils and visitors adhering to hand hygiene measures in accordance with Department guidance?
25. Have arrangements been made for staff and pupils to have regular access to hand-washing/hand sanitising facilities as appropriate?
26. Are hand sanitisers easily available and accessible for all staff, pupils and visitors – e.g. in each classroom and at entry and exit points to school buildings?
27. Have you made arrangements to ensure hand hygiene facilities are regularly checked and well-stocked?
28. Does the alcohol-based hand sanitiser have at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol as the active ingredient?
29. Have you informed staff about the importance of hand washing?
30. Have you arranged for staff to view how to wash their hands (with soap and water for at least 20 seconds) and dry them correctly through the use of the HSE video resource?
31. Have you shown staff and pupils how to use hand sanitiser correctly and where hand-sanitising stations are located?
32. Have you displayed posters on how to wash hands correctly in appropriate locations?
33. Have you told staff and pupils when they need to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser? This includes:
 before and after eating and preparing food
 after coughing or sneezing
 after using the toilet
 where hands are dirty
 before and after wearing gloves
 before and after being on public transport
 before leaving home
 when arriving/leaving the school /other sites
 after touching potentially contaminated surfaces
 if in contact with someone displaying any COVID-19 symptoms
34. Has you told staff and pupils of the importance of good respiratory measures to limit the spread of the virus?
 avoid touching the face, eyes, nose and mouth
 cover coughs and sneezes with an elbow or a tissue
 dispose of tissues in a covered bin

Physical Distancing:
35. Have you identified all available school space to be used to maximise physical distancing?
36. Have you reviewed the templates provided by the Department of Education which show options for revised layout of school rooms to meet physical distancing requirements?
37. Have you arranged to revise the layout of the rooms and furniture as per the Department guidelines if necessary?
38. Have you arranged in each room that the teacher’s desk should be at least 1m and where possible 2m away from pupil desks?
39. Have you arranged in each room that pupils would be at least 1m away from each other?
40. Have you allocated work stations consistently to the same staff and children rather than having spaces that are shared?
41. Have you structured pupils and their teachers into Class Bubbles (i.e. a class grouping which stays apart from other classes as much as possible) and discrete groups or “Pods” within those class bubbles to the extent that this is practical?
42. If you have divided a class into Pods, have you arranged at least 1m distance between individual Pods within the class bubble and between individuals in the pod, whenever possible?
43. Have you taken steps to limit contact and sharing of common facilities between people in different Class Bubbles (and Pods within those class bubbles) as much as possible?
44. Have you arranged Pod sizes to be as small as it is likely to be reasonably practical in the specific classroom context?
45. Have you arranged to the greatest extent possible for pupils and teaching staff to be consistently in the same Class Bubbles acknowledging that this will not be possible at all times?
46. Have you arranged where possible that different class bubbles to have separate breaks and meal times or separate areas at break or meal times?
47. Have you made arrangements to limit interaction on arrival and departure from school and in other shared areas?
48. Have you encouraged walking or cycling to school as much as possible?
49. Have you made arrangements, in so far as practicable, to open additional access points to school to reduce congestion?
50. Can you provide a one system for entering and exiting the school, where practical?
51. Have you arranged for staff meetings to be held remotely or in small groups or in large spaces to facilitate physical distancing?
52. Have you a system to regularly remind staff and pupils to maintain physical distancing
53. Have you advised staff not to shake hands and to avoid any physical contact?
Visitors to Schools
54. Have you identified the activities that involve interacting with essential visitors to the school, made arrangements to minimise the number of such visitors and put in place measures to prevent physical contact, as far as possible?
55. Are there arrangements in place to inform essential visitors to the school of the measures to help prevent the spread of infection?
56. Have you a system in place for all visitors who do need to come to the school to make appointment, arrange to contact a central point and to record their visit using the contact tracing log?

Appendix 9

Checklist for dealing with a suspected case of COVID-19
Staff members will be required to manage a suspected case in line with the protocol and training.
A nominated member of the school management team will be responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the protocol to deal with suspected cases have been adhered to.
Isolation Area
1. Have you identified a place that can be used as an isolation area, preferably with a door that can close?
2. The isolation area does not have to be a separate room but if it is not a room it should be 2m away from others in the room.
3. Is the isolation area accessible, including to staff and pupils with disabilities?
4. Is the route to the isolation area accessible?
5. Have you a contingency plan for dealing with more than one suspected case of COVID-19?
6. Are the following available in the isolation area(s)?
 Tissues
 Hand sanitiser
 Disinfectant/wipes
 Gloves/Masks
 Waste Bags
 Bins
 Disposable Aprons

Isolating a Person
7. Are procedures in place to accompany the infected person to the isolation area, along the isolation route with physical distancing from them?
8. Are staff familiar with this procedure?
9. Have others been advised to maintain a distance of at least 2m from the affected person at all times? (it is intended that this will be dealt with as part of the Department’s online training)
10. Is there a disposable mask to wear for the affected person while in the common area and when exiting the building?

Arranging for the affected person to leave the school
11. Staff – have you established by asking them if the staff members feel well enough to travel home?
12. Pupil – have you immediately contacted their parents/guardians and arranged for them to collect their pupil? Under no circumstances can a pupil use public or school transport to travel home if they are a suspected case of COVID-19.
13. The affected person should be advised to avoid touching other people, surfaces and objects.
14. The affected person been advised to cover their mouth and nose with disposable tissue(s) when they cough or sneeze, and to put the tissue in the bin.
15. Has transport home or to an assessment centre been arranged if the affected person has been directed to go there by their GP?
16. Has the affected person been advised not to go to their GP’s surgery or any pharmacy or hospital?
17. Has the affected person been advised they must not use public transport?
18. Has the affected person been advised to continue wearing the face mask until the reach home?
Follow up
19. Have you carried out an assessment of the incident to identify any follow-up actions needed?
20. Are you available to provide advice and assistance if contacted by the HSE?
Cleaning
21. Have you taken the isolation area out-of-use until cleaned and disinfected?
22. Have you made arrangements to clean and disinfect any classroom space where the staff or pupils were located?
23. Have you arranged for cleaning and disinfection of the isolation area and any other areas involved, as soon as practical after the affected person has left the building?
Have the cleaners been trained in dealing with contaminated areas and supplied with the appropriate PPE? (It is intended to provide online training for cleaning staff. Appropriate PPE will be available to schools through the national procurement process which schools can access before reopening).

Appendix 10
Checklist Lead Worker Representative
1. Have you agreed with your school to act as a Lead worker representative for your school? (Process for agreeing on lead worker representative/s in schools to be agreed centrally and implemented locally).
2. Have you been provided with information and training in relation to the role of lead worker representative? (Training for this role is currently being explored with the HSA).
3. Are you keeping up to date with the latest COVID-19 advice from Government?
4. Are you aware of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19?
5. Do you know how the virus is spread?
6. Do you know how to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
7. Have you watched and do you understand the online Induction Training provided by the Department of Education before returning to school?
8. Are you helping in keeping your fellow workers up to date with the latest COVID-19 advice from Government?
9. Have you completed the COVID-19 return-to-work form and given it to your school? (Department template Return-to-Work form available)
10. Are you aware of the control measures your school has put in place to minimise the risk of you and others being exposed to COVID-19? (Checklist for School Management available)
11. Did your school consult with you when putting control measures in place? Control measures will be agreed centrally between the Department and education partners. Consultation at school level should take place on any specific local arrangements necessary to implement the protocol
12. Have you a means of regular communication with the person with overall responsibility for the school COVID-19 plan?
13. Are you co-operating with your school to make sure these control measures are maintained?
14. Have you familiarised yourself with the cleaning requirements needed to help prevent cross contamination? (Checklist for Cleaning and Disinfection available)
15. Have you been asked to walk around and check that the control measures are in place and are being maintained?
16. Are you reporting immediately to the person with overall responsibility for the school COVID-19 plan any problems, areas of non-compliance or defects that you see?
17. Are you keeping a record of any problems, areas of non-compliance or defects and what action was taken to remedy the issue?
18. Are you familiar with what to do in the event of someone developing the symptoms of COVID-19 while at school?
19. Are you co-operating with your school in identifying an isolation area and a safe route to that area? (Checklist for dealing with suspected case of COVID-19 available)
20. Are you helping in the management of someone developing symptoms of COVID-19 while at school?
21. Once the affected person has left the school, are you helping in assessing what follow-up action is needed?
22. Are you helping in maintaining the contact log?
23. Have you been made aware of any changes to the emergency plans or first aid procedures for your school?
24. Are you making yourself available to fellow staff to listen to any COVID-19 control concerns or suggestions they may have?
25. Are you raising those control concerns or suggestions with your school and feeding back the response to the worker who raised the issue?
26. Are you aware of the availability of the Spectrum Life Wellbeing Together Programme?

Appendix 11

Checklist for Cleaning
1. Have you a system in place for checking and keeping up to date with the latest public health advice from Government and the Department of Education, to ensure that advice is made available in a timely manner in order to adjust your cleaning procedures in line with that advice?
2. Have you reviewed the HPSC interim health advice for the safe reopening of schools, in particular Section 5.6 Environmental Hygiene?
3. Have you explained the need for the enhanced cleaning regime to staff?
4. Are you aware that cleaning is best achieved using a general purpose detergent and warm water, clean cloths, mops and the mechanical action of wiping and cleaning, following by rinsing and drying?
5. Have you sufficient cleaning materials in place to support the enhanced cleaning regime?
6. Have you provided training for cleaning staff on the enhanced cleaning regime? (Department of Education intends to provide online training for cleaning staff)
7. Have you made arrangements for the regular and safe emptying of bins?
8. Are you familiar with the cleaning options for school settings set out in the interim HPSC health advice for schools for surfaces, toilets, cleaning equipment, PPE and waste management?
9. Are you aware that each school setting should be cleaned once per day?
10. Have you provided cleaning materials to staff so that they can clean their own desk or immediate workspace?
11. Have you advised staff that they are responsible for cleaning personal items that have been brought to work and are likely to be handled at work or during breaks (for example, mobile phone and laptops) and to avoid leaving them down on communal surfaces or they will need to clean the surface after the personal item is removed?
12. Have you advised staff and pupils to avoid sharing items such as cups, bottles, cutlery, and pens?
13. Have you put in place a written cleaning schedule to be made available to cleaning staff including:
 Items and areas to be cleaned
 Frequency of cleaning
 Cleaning materials to be used
 Equipment to be used and method of operation?
14. Details of how to clean following a suspected case of COVID-19 are at Section 7 of the Plan above
15. If disinfection of contaminated surfaces is required, is a system in place to do this following cleaning?
16. If cleaning staff have been instructed to wear gloves when cleaning are they aware of the need to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, both before and after wearing gloves?
17. Have you a system in place for the disposable of cleaning cloths and used wipes in a rubbish bag? Current HSE guidance recommends waste such as cleaning waste, tissues etc. from a person suspected of having COVID-19 should be double bagged and stored in a secure area for 72 hours before being presented for general waste collection.
18. Have you ensured there is a system in place to make sure reusable cleaning equipment including mop heads and non-disposable cloths are clean before re-use?
19. Have you ensured there is a system in place to ensure that equipment such as buckets are emptied and cleaned with a fresh solution of disinfectant before re-use?