Primary and secondary schools are likely to open on a phased basis over a three-week period in March, according to a number of senior education sources. Special education will partially reopen from Thursday of this week when the State’s 140-plus special schools open their doors with 50 per cent student attendance. They will be followed by the full return of special classes in mainstream primary schools, which are due to reopen on February 22nd. This will likely be followed by the phased return of mainstream classes across primary and secondary schools over a three-week period, in advance of the Easter holidays which start on March 26th. In the meantime, unions will be paying close attention on the outcome of mass-testing for Covid-19 in both special education and the childcare sector.

Source: The Irish Times February 09, 2021 19:01 UTC