Covid-19
School Response Plan
All schools will need to have a Covid-19 Response Plan in place in order to reopen safely in the new school year.
This document has been prepared on the basis of current public health advice and will continue to be updated throughout the summer as further public advice is received.
Kolbe Special School will rise to the challenge and the key themes of the Public Health Advice necessary to keep us all safe will permeate throughout our school community, with everyone
Table of Contents
Introduction. 3
1. Kolbe Special School COVID-19 Policy. 4
2. Planning and Preparing for Return to School 6
3. Procedure for Returning to Work (RTW). 6
4. Return to work safely and Lead Worker Representative. 6
5. Safety Statement and Risk Assessment. 7
6. General advice to prevent the spread of the virus. 7
7. Managing the risk of spread of COVID-19. 8
8. Control Measures. 10
9. Dealing with a suspected case of Covid-19. 12
10. Staff Duties. 13
11. COVID-19 related absence management. 13
12. Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme. 14
Planning for the Curriculum
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15
2. Individual Planning…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15
3. Using Specialist Rooms………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….15
4. Shared Equipment and Outdoor Spaces…………………………………………………………………………………………………………16
5. Pupil Lunches…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………17
6. Using Bathroom and Toilets…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………17
7. Moving and Handling…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….18
8. Communication……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..19
9. Behaviour and Physical Intervention……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..19
10. Parental Responsibilities………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………20
11.Home Learning/Blended Learning…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………20
12. School Transport. 21
13. Keeping in Touch………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….22
Introduction
This Covid-19 Response Plan is designed to support the staff and Board of Management (BOM) in putting measures in place that will prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Kolbe Special School.
The Covid-19 Response Plan details the policies and practices necessary for a school to meet the Government’s ‘Return to Work Safely Protocol’, the Department of Education and Skills plan for school reopening and to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the school environment. The plan incorporates current advice about measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the community issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
It is important that the resumption of school-based teaching and learning and the reopening of school facilities comply with the protocol to minimise the risk to students, staff and others. As the advice issued by NPHET continues to evolve, this protocol and the measures management and staff need to address may also change.
The response plan will support the sustainable reopening of our school where the overriding objective is to protect the health of staff and pupils while promoting the educational and development needs of the children in the school.
In line with the Return to Work Safely Protocol, the key to a safe and continued return to work, and re-opening of our schools requires strong communication and a shared collaborative approach between the Board of Management, staff, pupils and parents.
This document aims to provide details of:
The assistance and cooperation of all staff, pupils, parents/guardians, contractors and visitors is critical to the success of the plan.
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided in this document. However, should errors or omissions be identified, please notify us so that appropriate measures can be taken to rectify same.
Note: The plan is a live working document and may be reviewed and amended to take into account new guidance from www.Gov.ie, www.dbei.ie www.hse.ie, www.hpsc.ie, www.hsa.ie; www.education.ie;
1. Kolbe Special School COVID-19 Policy
This COVID-19 policy outlines our commitment as a school to implement the plan and help prevent the spread of the virus. The policy will be signed and dated by the Principal and Chairperson of the Board of Management and brought to the attention of staff, pupils, parents and others.
COVID 19 Policy Statement
Kolbe Special School is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our staff and a safe learning environment for all our pupils. To ensure that, we have developed the following COVID-19 Response Plan. The BOM and all school staff are responsible for the implementation of this plan and a combined effort will help contain the spread of the virus. We will:
This can be done through the Lead Worker Representative(s) ______________
Signed: _________________________________ Date: __________________
2. Planning and Preparing for Return to School
The Board of Management aims to facilitate the resumption of school-based teaching and learning and the return to the workplace of staff. The return to the work must be done safely and in strict adherence to the advice and instructions of public health authorities and the Government.
Details for the reopening of the school facility and the applicable controls are outlined in this document.
• Does the water system need flushing at outlets following low usage to prevent Legionella disease;
• Has school equipment and mechanical ventilation been checked for signs of deterioration or damage before being used again;
• Have bin collections and other essential services resumed
https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/posters/
Kolbe Special School will display the posters in prominent areas such as offices, corridors, staffroom area, classrooms and toilets.
3. Procedure for Returning to Work (RTW)
In order to return to the workplace, staff must complete a Return to Work (School) [RTW(s)] form, which is available electronically or from the Principal. Click here to download a copy of the RTW(S) Form
A RTW form should only be completed at least 3 days prior to any proposed date of return to the workplace.
On receipt of the completed form the Principal will provide: details of the Induction Training for completion by staff prior to the return to the workplace and details of any additional health and safety measures in place in the school to facilitate the staff member’s return to the school facility.
Note: Induction Training for staff will be developed by the Department in consultation with stakeholders and made available for all schools and staff/
4. Return to work safely and Lead Worker Representative
Responsibility for the development and implementation of the Covid-19 Response Plan and the associated control measures lies primarily with the Board of Management and the School Leadership.
The Return to Work Safely protocol provides for an agreed procedure between management and staff to appoint a Lead Worker Representative to carry out a specific role.
The role of the Lead Worker Representative is to ensure that Covid-19 measures are adhered to in the workplace as follows
Kolbe Special School will have a Lead Worker and an Assistant Lead Worker
Name of Lead Worker representative:
Contact details
Name of Assistant Lead Worker representative:
Contact details
All staff, parents/guardians, contractors and visitors have a responsibility both as individuals and collectively to have due regard for their own health and safety and that of others and to assist with the implementation of the Covid-19 Response Plan and associated control measures.
5. Safety Statement and Risk Assessment
COVID-19 represents a hazard in the context of health and safety in the school environment. Kolbe Special School has reviewed it’s Risk Assessment Policy and identified the control measures required to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 within the school.
It is important that schools review their emergency procedures involving, fire safety, first aid, accidents and dangerous occurrences to consider any new risks that arise due to the COVID-19 School Response Plan. Any changes to the schools existing emergency procedures should be documented.
Schools should also review their existing risk assessments to consider any new risks that arise due to the school’s COVID-19 Response Plan. Any changes to the school’s current risk assessments should also be documented.
6. General advice to prevent the spread of the virus
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 it is important to know and recognise the symptoms. They are:
This can be achieved through the following measures:
Updated advice from the HSE is available on its website – https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
The Department of Education and Skills will ensure all updated advice is circulated to schools. Kolbe Special School will arrange for this advice to be circulated to staff, pupils and visitors in a timely manner.
7. Managing the risk of spread of COVID-19
Follow the HSE guidelines on handwashing:
For advice from HSE on how to wash your hands the following link will be helpful: https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/how-to-wash-your-hands.html
Hand sanitisers are more readily deployed throughout the school. They will be at the school entrance, the entry and exit of each class and within the classroom. Hand sanitiser will also be at points throughout the school.
Note: Guidance on the physical distancing requirements will be informed by public health advice for schools and will be updated.
By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and Covid-19.
The pupils of Kolbe Special School cannot practice proper respiratory hygiene or physical distancing. It is therefore essential that staff maintain high care in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 within their class and throughout the school.
Good hygiene practices and washing your hands properly and regularly can help stop the spread of the virus. It is, therefore, crucial that all staff adhere to this advice and adopt the following practices as strictly as possible.
The list of people in very high risk groups include people who:
If the Board/Principal is unsure whether or not staff fall into the very high-risk category, advice will be sought from the Occupational Health Service.
8. Control Measures
A range of essential control measures have been implemented to reduce the risk of the spread of Covid-19 virus and to protect the safety, health and welfare of staff, pupils, parents/guardians and visitors as far as possible within the school.
These control measures are outlined in this document.
The control measures shall continue to be reviewed and updated as required on an ongoing basis.
It is critical that staff, pupils, parents/guardians and visitors are aware of, and adhere to, the control measures outlined and that they fully cooperate with all health and safety requirements.
Staff, in particular, should note that they have a legal obligation under Section 13 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to comply with health and safety requirements and to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves, their colleagues and other parties within the workplace.
The following control measures have been put in place:
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.
https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/summerprovision/summer-education-programme-2020.html#SchoolBased
Guidance documentation and Information posters will be available at various locations within the school. Information posters will be prominently displayed at appropriate locations within the school facility including offices, corridors, staffroom area, classrooms and toilet areas. Such are intended to inform but also remind everyone about the importance of hygiene in preventing the spread of Covid-19 virus and protecting health and safety.
Handwashing facilities and/or hand sanitisers are available at multiple locations within the school and will be available in each classroom.
PPE will not be required to be worn within the school facility according to current occupational and public health guidance.
However, at Kolbe Special School, PPE will need to be used constantly due to the nature of certain work activities or work areas.
Staff will be required to wear facemasks, visors and aprons when
The school nurses will apply standard precautions as per usual nursing and HSE practice.
The use of a face covering will conceal facial expression and can make communication difficult. The staff at Kolbe Special School acknowledge this, however, as a duty of care to our very vulnerable pupils there will be times when staff will have no option.
Staff will also wear a visor as an alternative to a facial covering. There will be times when staff will need to wear both.
Regular and thorough cleaning of communal areas and frequently touched surfaces shall be conducted, in particular, toilets, door handles. Cleaning will be performed regularly and whenever facilities or surfaces are visibly dirty.
All staff will have access to cleaning products and will be required to maintain cleanliness of their own work area. Under no circumstances should these cleaning materials be removed from the building.
Staff should thoroughly clean and disinfect their own classroom and bathroom before and after use each day.
There will be regular collection of used waste disposal bags from offices and other areas within the school facility.
Staff must use and clean their own equipment and utensils (cup, cutlery, plate etc.).
Access to the school facility will be in line with agreed school procedures.
Arrangement for necessary visitors such as contractors and parents/guardians with be restricted to essential purposes and limited to those who have obtained prior approval from the Principal.
The prompt identification and isolation of potentially infectious individuals is a crucial step in restricting the spread of the virus and protecting the health and safety of the individuals themselves and other staff, contractors and visitors at the workplace. A detailed sign in/sign out log of those entering the school facilities should be maintained. The school should maintain a log of staff and students contacts. Click here to download a copy of the Contact Tracking Log
9. 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 Kolbe Special School will deal with a suspected case that may arise during the course of work.
A designated isolation room has been identified. It will be the pre-fab beside the secretary’s office. In the possibility of more than one person displaying signs of Covid-19 the following will apply
The designated isolation areas are behind a closed door and away from other staff and pupils.
If a staff member/pupil displays symptoms of Covid-19 while at work in Kolbe Special School the following are the procedures to be implemented:
If a staff member displays symptoms of COVID-19 the following procedures will apply
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 confidentiality is essential at all times. As soon as the school receives confirmation of a positive case of COVID-19, the school will inform parents and follow the guidelines from the HSE.
If a pupil or a staff member goes home sick from school with a suspected case of COVID-19 under GDPR and Data Protection the school will not be letting staff or parents know.
10. 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. In order to facilitate a safe return to work, these duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
11. COVID-19 Related Absence Management
The management of a COVID-19 related absence will be managed in line with agreed procedures with DES.
See circular 0049/2020
12. Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme
The Board of Management aims to protect and support the health and wellbeing of all staff (physical, mental, spiritual etc.) both at work, whether in the school facility or at home and outside of work. The Board of Management is mindful that the support and promotion of staff health and wellbeing is particularly important in the current context where the Covid-19 pandemic has caused considerable challenges for, and disruption to, people’s personal, family and social lives as well as their work arrangements.
The Board of Management aims to foster a culture and work environment that support healthy behaviours and staff wellbeing and shall continue to make health and wellbeing tools and guidance available to staff as well as organising suitable support programmes, initiatives and events.
These are challenging times for everyone. Should a staff member experience any stress or anxiety in respect of work or work arrangements, he/she should feel free to speak to the principal.
Planning for the Curriculum
1. Introduction
As a response to the COVID-19 Pandemic our curriculum delivery has been temporarily reshaped to ensure the safety and recovery of our whole school community. It is vital that we focus on individuals’ wellbeing and mental health in light of real or perceived trauma caused by recent events while ensuring environments are safe for all members of the school community.
As our pupils will not have been in school for a period of over five months the start of our school year will be considered as a transition for all – a transition from home to school, a reconnection with friends and staff.
Kolbe Special School recognises that some parents and pupils may be anxious about returning to school. However, the physical return to school offers a welcome opportunity for pupils to receive social connections, to re-bond with friends and to and to spend time with adults who are significant to them.
Alongside the changes to our curriculum the manner in which the school operates has been altered as a response to COVID-19.
2. Individual Planning
Planning will be informed through conversations with families and through the collation of information from “All About Me” documents which detail each child’s experience while at home. It will contain individual strategies to support developing communication, ensuring transitions are well planned for and supported, that environments are adapted and account for learner need, how plans support learners to feel safe and stay safe and how outcomes from the curriculum will be met through the implementation of the recovery curriculum.
Success Is Pupils receive a variety of learning opportunities that are personalised to each learning outcome and that account for the breadth and ambition of our curriculum while focusing on wellbeing and positive mental health.
3. Using Specialist Rooms
Each class bubble must ensure that all pupil’s hands are sanitized before and after they enter another zone of the school. Specialist rooms and equipment will have to be cleaned by each class bubble after each use. Shared specialist spaces will be timetabled to enable appropriate cleaning between sessions and to continue to enhance our curriculum.
Access to outdoor area & PE hall will enhance the recovery curriculum and the experience of our pupils. It is paramount that they are utilised in a safe manner for the consideration of all in the school.
Soft Play – The soft play room will be accessed by one class in the morning and one in the afternoon to allow for full cleaning within sessions.
Sensory trolley – The sensory trolley will be accessed by one class in the morning and one in the afternoon to allow for full cleaning within sessions.
Nurses Station- Pupils will be brought by a member of their class to the Nurses. They will wait outside the door until the pupil is brought into the Nurses room. The Nurse will bring the pupil back to their classroom and wait with them outside the classroom until a class member brings them in. The Nurses room will be cleaned between each pupil.
Hall – Staff will continue to be mindful to wipe down equipment that has been used wearing gloves and using appropriate supplied disinfectant.
Corridors – Staff will ensure that pupils using the corridor will not travel in groups, and if pupils touch anything that it is cleaned appropriately.
OT, Physiotherapy & Speech & Language Therapist –
Success Is Children will have their curriculum enhanced through the use of specialist rooms in a planned for manner to reduce risk and ensure the safety and wellbeing of students.
4. Shared Equipment and Outdoor Spaces
Kolbe Special school provides engaging learning opportunities through our teaching experiences, our engaging equipment and exciting outdoor spaces. Our response to COVID-19 will mean the way we deliver our curriculum, including how we use equipment and outdoor spaces will need to change. Learning environments have been reorganised to reduce to contact points through appropriate storing of equipment.
Access to outdoor spaces will enhance the recovery curriculum and the experience of our learner. It is paramount that they are utilised in a safe manner for the consideration of all school. All staff will continue with increased hygiene procedures.
Toys: Staff will bring resources to children to engage with. Once finished with, they will be disinfected and stored to reduce risk before being accessed again.
Interactive White boards: Screens must be wiped down between use, same with switches
Bikes and Scooters: Seating and handles will continue to be regularly wiped down and disinfected across the school day.
General Learning Equipment: Additional or multiple items will be used by staff to reduce the sharing of equipment. These could include books, activities and sensory stories. There will be no sharing of resources between class bubbles.
Playground: Playtimes will be staggered to reduced children’s contact with other bubbles. At the end of each play time all handles, seating and climbing points swing seating, swing handles, handles, benches will be wiped down and disinfected. Pupils hand to be sanitized before entry and exit of playground.
Success Is Children will have their curriculum enhanced through the use of shared equipment and outdoor areas in a planned for manner to reduce risk and ensure the safety and wellbeing of students.
5. Pupil Lunches
Lunchtime provides opportunity for our pupils to develop social skills, independence and to fuel up ready for the rest of the day! As a response to the current pandemic our arrangements for lunches has been altered to reduce levels of risk in a variety of ways.
All equipment, will be returned to the kitchen by one member of staff using a trolley or tray, to be boil washed in the dishwasher in preparation for the next day.
A trolley plan to be devised for the Hospital Dinner Trolley (who washing/clearing etc. for HSE collection).
6. Using Bathrooms and Toilets
Good toilet hygiene and handwashing is paramount to limiting the spread of Covid 19. We will continue to encourage good hygiene for all pupils who are using either toilets or the specialist bathrooms.
Bathrooms:
Toilets:
Staff Toilets:
Success is Pupils and staff are safer because pupils will continue to be encouraged to wash their hands following use in the bathrooms or toilets to reduce risk.
7. MOVING AND HANDLING
Mobility is vital, if not critical for many of our pupils. Good hygiene and handwashing is paramount to limiting the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to encourage good hygiene for all pupils and staff who are using any M&H equipment in classrooms and bathrooms.
Follow guidance on: Pupil Toilets and Bathrooms when using equipment in those areas.
General:
Ceiling Hoist: Staff to wipe down touch contact points on the hoist handset and spreader bar after each use/change in staff.
Mobile hoists: Staff to wipe down touch contact points- handset, spreader bar, controls, and push handles after each use/change in staff.
Slings (school ones) are allocated to an individual child or young person. These should be laundered weekly following the washing instructions that are on the sling. Parents to wash home slings also. Slings can be air dried over night or put outside in the sunshine, or follow washing instruction to see it they can be tumble dried.
Handling belts: must be for individual pupil use. They should be wiped after each use and laundered as per cleaning instructions.
Walkers: wipe touch contact points after each use.
Standing frames: Wipe contact points between uses (push handles, levers used, belt clasps and hand set controls).
Specialist seating: in school (class chairs); Wipe contact points between uses (push handles, levers used, belt clasps and hand set controls).
Wheelchairs: (home chairs); on arrival at school; wipe push handles, levers, belt clasps and handset controls.
Success Is Pupils access equipment to develop or maintain their physicality while increasing their wellbeing in an environment that has prioritised safety
8. Communication
During this term of global uncertainty we recognise more than ever the importance of transparent, supportive communication: for our colleagues, our families and our pupils. Information will continue to be communicated as clearly as possible using our school’s systems: Aladdin, email, post and telephone. We will provide clarity and reassurance where needed and will signpost to resources where helpful.
Our pupil’s communication is supported through social stories, PECs, Lámh, Objects of Refence etc.
Our Recovery Curriculum recognises that many children may not have used their communication systems during the last few months as families intrinsically know what their children want or need. Social communication pressures many have been eased or removed to support coping mechanisms. We will seek to encourage our children’s voice and recognise the necessity to provide times to talk, share and make sense of it all.
9. Behaviour and Physical Intervention
At Kolbe Special School we aim to maintain a safe, caring and stimulating environment in which our children and young people are encouraged to have respect for themselves and each other. Whilst expectations in our Behaviour Policy remain pertinent, it is necessary, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, to make some adjustments for the safety of all pupils and staff.
We accept that behaviours are likely to have changed as a response to the pandemic. This may be seen through physical or emotional responses to situations and activities linked to returning back to school, remaining at home or returning to some altered routines and structures.
We acknowledge that pupils will have had a range of different experiences during the lockdown period, which may impact on their behaviour presentation at school. Some may present with frustration as a result of being isolated from friends and familiar routine. Others may have experienced bereavement or loss or another, real or perceived, traumatic episode.
For many, the process of re-engagement with learning and the school community, under unusual circumstances, may require some additional input and encouragement.
As a result of these varied experiences children may present with behaviour that is not usual, this may include;
Kolbe Special School recognises that behaviour could be a sign that for some individual children there is an unfulfilled need and that the behaviour is communicating that there is a problem. We will continue to undertake an individual risk assessment for children and use reasonable endeavours to make the necessary adjustments to reduce the stimulus that may be triggering the challenging response.
If necessary, the school will seek whatever external support is available from other agencies such as the visiting Professionals, Social Worker, Psychologist, Doctor.
Use of Physical Intervention: When faced with behaviours that challenge de-escalation remains the school’s first response. Pupils should be given time to calm and the Recovery Curriculum in current use should allow time and space for pupils to de-escalate and calm. The school will continue to follow all policies on managing behaviours of concern.
Success Is Recognising a communication so that behaviours that challenge are addressed and managed safely and swiftly.
10. Parental Responsibilities
The success of Kolbe Special School is reliant upon the partnerships we have in place with our pupils and their families. Parents and carers are the experts in their children. It is vital that we continue to work in the best interests of our pupils. Parents have been consulted and
Parents will have to agree to:
Success Is Parent and school partnerships ensure a safe environment for the whole school community.
11. Home Learning/Blended Learning
It is the aim of Kolbe Special School to support our pupils in the best way we can in this time of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We recognise and endorse the roll of the Parents/Guardians as the primary educators of their children. All blended learning opportunities are optional and it is at the discretion of the Parent/ Guardian to engage with these.
For children who are unable to attend school due to, Parental decision around risk, class or school closure due to COVID-19 or class closure due to insufficient staffing, blended learning activities will be provided.
Whilst it is acknowledged that it is hard to provide for the educational needs of our pupils without face to face contact, if blended learning is needed the following will be offered.
12. School Transport
Travelling on School Bus
Getting pupils to and from school safely is part of the planning to re-opening schools. According to the Roadmap for the re-opening of schools the School Transport Scheme will operate as normal for the next school year 2020/2021.
Observing hygiene requirements will be a key for all those travelling on the bus to Kolbe Special School and the following requirements will be are
13. Keeping in Touch
At Kolbe Special School, the health, safety and well-being of every child and young person is our first priority. Kolbe Special School recognises that school is a protective factor for children and young people and the current circumstances, can affect the well-being of pupils and their parents/carers. It is also important that our pupils and their families remain connected to school as part of our whole school community.
Where pupils continue to self-isolate and shield at home, we still have a safeguarding duty of care to ensure that we keep in touch with pupils and their families. We will do this weekly by telephone, email or over Zoom at least once a week and record it on plans, using the ‘COVID-19 Conversations’ tag. Calls as completed by, or at the direction of the class teacher and must be completed by 3pm Every Friday.
If safeguarding concerns are picked up, the usual procedures will apply and be put in place as per our Child Protection Policy.
When contacting families, teachers should be aware of GDPR requirements. All contact details should remain confidential and should not be in hard copy form.
Teachers and school staff should continue to use a school phone/email address to make contact with families ensuring their personal contact details are kept confidential. Calls can also be made to families where their children are attending school.
School staff can give parents their school email addresses but not personal email details.
Aim:
We’ll visit families at home too if HSE permits it and parents would appreciate it, this could be just to say hi, drop something off.
Success Is Relationships across the whole school community are maintained or strengthened. Pupils and parents are engaged, which will increase their resilience during Covid-19. School will be able to provide support when it is needed.
School Response Plan
All schools will need to have a Covid-19 Response Plan in place in order to reopen safely in the new school year.
This document has been prepared on the basis of current public health advice and will continue to be updated throughout the summer as further public advice is received.
Kolbe Special School will rise to the challenge and the key themes of the Public Health Advice necessary to keep us all safe will permeate throughout our school community, with everyone
- Applying common sense
- Adopting a balanced approach
- Doing everything practical to avoid the introduction of COVID – 19 into our school
- Being aware of
- What we can all do to protect ourselves and each other
- How to recognise and report the symptoms of COVID – 19
- The need to stay at home if we feel unwell
- Continuing to observe physical distancing, good hand hygiene and good respiratory etiquette
Table of Contents
Introduction. 3
1. Kolbe Special School COVID-19 Policy. 4
2. Planning and Preparing for Return to School 6
3. Procedure for Returning to Work (RTW). 6
4. Return to work safely and Lead Worker Representative. 6
5. Safety Statement and Risk Assessment. 7
6. General advice to prevent the spread of the virus. 7
7. Managing the risk of spread of COVID-19. 8
8. Control Measures. 10
9. Dealing with a suspected case of Covid-19. 12
10. Staff Duties. 13
11. COVID-19 related absence management. 13
12. Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme. 14
Planning for the Curriculum
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15
2. Individual Planning…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15
3. Using Specialist Rooms………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….15
4. Shared Equipment and Outdoor Spaces…………………………………………………………………………………………………………16
5. Pupil Lunches…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………17
6. Using Bathroom and Toilets…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………17
7. Moving and Handling…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….18
8. Communication……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..19
9. Behaviour and Physical Intervention……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..19
10. Parental Responsibilities………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………20
11.Home Learning/Blended Learning…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………20
12. School Transport. 21
13. Keeping in Touch………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….22
Introduction
This Covid-19 Response Plan is designed to support the staff and Board of Management (BOM) in putting measures in place that will prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Kolbe Special School.
The Covid-19 Response Plan details the policies and practices necessary for a school to meet the Government’s ‘Return to Work Safely Protocol’, the Department of Education and Skills plan for school reopening and to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the school environment. The plan incorporates current advice about measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the community issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
It is important that the resumption of school-based teaching and learning and the reopening of school facilities comply with the protocol to minimise the risk to students, staff and others. As the advice issued by NPHET continues to evolve, this protocol and the measures management and staff need to address may also change.
The response plan will support the sustainable reopening of our school where the overriding objective is to protect the health of staff and pupils while promoting the educational and development needs of the children in the school.
In line with the Return to Work Safely Protocol, the key to a safe and continued return to work, and re-opening of our schools requires strong communication and a shared collaborative approach between the Board of Management, staff, pupils and parents.
This document aims to provide details of:
- COVID-19 School Policy
- Planning and Preparing for Return to School
- School Building
- Signage
- Procedure for Returning to Work (RTW)
- Return to work safely and Lead Worker Representative(s)
- Safety Statement and Risk Assessment
- General advice to prevent the spread of the virus
- Wash your Hands Frequently
- Hand Hygiene and Hand Sanitiser
- Avoid Touching your Eyes, Nose and Mouth
- Physical Distancing
- Practice Respiratory Hygiene
- Do
- Do Not
- People at Very High Risk (Extremely Vulnerable)
- Managing the Risk of Spread of Covid-19
- Control Measures
- Return to Work Form
- Induction Training
- Induction Training – On-line Video
- Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Wearing of Gloves
- Cleaning
- Access to the School Building / Contact Log
- First Aid / Emergency Procedure
- Dealing with a suspected case of Covid-19
- Staff Duties
- Covid related absence management
- Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme
The assistance and cooperation of all staff, pupils, parents/guardians, contractors and visitors is critical to the success of the plan.
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided in this document. However, should errors or omissions be identified, please notify us so that appropriate measures can be taken to rectify same.
Note: The plan is a live working document and may be reviewed and amended to take into account new guidance from www.Gov.ie, www.dbei.ie www.hse.ie, www.hpsc.ie, www.hsa.ie; www.education.ie;
1. Kolbe Special School COVID-19 Policy
This COVID-19 policy outlines our commitment as a school to implement the plan and help prevent the spread of the virus. The policy will be signed and dated by the Principal and Chairperson of the Board of Management and brought to the attention of staff, pupils, parents and others.
COVID 19 Policy Statement
Kolbe Special School is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our staff and a safe learning environment for all our pupils. To ensure that, we have developed the following COVID-19 Response Plan. The BOM and all school staff are responsible for the implementation of this plan and a combined effort will help contain the spread of the virus. We will:
- continue to monitor our COVID-19 response and amend this plan in consultation with our staff
- provide up to date information to our staff and pupils on the Public Health advice issued by the HSE and Gov.ie
- display information on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and correct hand-washing techniques
- agree with staff, a worker representative who is easily identifiable to carry out the role outlined in this plan
- inform all staff and pupils of essential hygiene and respiratory etiquette and physical distancing requirements
- adapt the school to facilitate physical distancing as appropriate in line with the guidance and direction of the Department of Education and Skills
- keep a contact log to help with contact tracing
- ensure staff and pupils engage with the induction / familiarisation briefing provided by the Department of Education and Skills
- implement the agreed procedures to be followed in the event of someone showing symptoms of COVID-19 while at school
- provide instructions for staff and pupils to follow if they develop signs and symptoms of COVID-19 during school time
- implement cleaning in line with Department of Education and Skills advice
This can be done through the Lead Worker Representative(s) ______________
Signed: _________________________________ Date: __________________
2. Planning and Preparing for Return to School
The Board of Management aims to facilitate the resumption of school-based teaching and learning and the return to the workplace of staff. The return to the work must be done safely and in strict adherence to the advice and instructions of public health authorities and the Government.
Details for the reopening of the school facility and the applicable controls are outlined in this document.
- School Buildings
• Does the water system need flushing at outlets following low usage to prevent Legionella disease;
• Has school equipment and mechanical ventilation been checked for signs of deterioration or damage before being used again;
• Have bin collections and other essential services resumed
- Signage
https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/posters/
Kolbe Special School will display the posters in prominent areas such as offices, corridors, staffroom area, classrooms and toilets.
3. Procedure for Returning to Work (RTW)
In order to return to the workplace, staff must complete a Return to Work (School) [RTW(s)] form, which is available electronically or from the Principal. Click here to download a copy of the RTW(S) Form
A RTW form should only be completed at least 3 days prior to any proposed date of return to the workplace.
On receipt of the completed form the Principal will provide: details of the Induction Training for completion by staff prior to the return to the workplace and details of any additional health and safety measures in place in the school to facilitate the staff member’s return to the school facility.
Note: Induction Training for staff will be developed by the Department in consultation with stakeholders and made available for all schools and staff/
4. Return to work safely and Lead Worker Representative
Responsibility for the development and implementation of the Covid-19 Response Plan and the associated control measures lies primarily with the Board of Management and the School Leadership.
The Return to Work Safely protocol provides for an agreed procedure between management and staff to appoint a Lead Worker Representative to carry out a specific role.
The role of the Lead Worker Representative is to ensure that Covid-19 measures are adhered to in the workplace as follows
- Work collaboratively with the employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare of employees in relation to COVID-19.
- 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 with the implementation of measures to suppress COVID-19 in the workplace.
- Monitor adherence to measures put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Consult with colleagues on matters relating to COVID-19 in the workplace.
- Make representations on behalf of their colleagues on matters relating to COVID-19 in the workplace.
Kolbe Special School will have a Lead Worker and an Assistant Lead Worker
Name of Lead Worker representative:
Contact details
Name of Assistant Lead Worker representative:
Contact details
All staff, parents/guardians, contractors and visitors have a responsibility both as individuals and collectively to have due regard for their own health and safety and that of others and to assist with the implementation of the Covid-19 Response Plan and associated control measures.
5. Safety Statement and Risk Assessment
COVID-19 represents a hazard in the context of health and safety in the school environment. Kolbe Special School has reviewed it’s Risk Assessment Policy and identified the control measures required to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 within the school.
It is important that schools review their emergency procedures involving, fire safety, first aid, accidents and dangerous occurrences to consider any new risks that arise due to the COVID-19 School Response Plan. Any changes to the schools existing emergency procedures should be documented.
Schools should also review their existing risk assessments to consider any new risks that arise due to the school’s COVID-19 Response Plan. Any changes to the school’s current risk assessments should also be documented.
6. General advice to prevent the spread of the virus
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 it is important to know and recognise the symptoms. They are:
- High temperature
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
- Loss of smell, of taste or distortion of taste
This can be achieved through the following measures:
- Promote awareness of COVID-19 and its symptoms amongst staff, pupils, parents and visitors.
- Advise staff and parents of pupils who have symptoms of COVID-19 or other acute infectious diseases not to attend school, to phone their GP and follow the HSE guidance on self-isolation.
- Advise staff and parents of pupils who have been identified by the HSE as contact of a person with COVID-19 not to attend schools and to follow the HSE advice on restriction of movement.
- Ensure that staff and pupils know what to do if they develop symptoms at school.
- Everyone entering the school building should be required to perform hand hygiene with hand sanitiser.
- Visitors to school during the day should be by prior arrangement and should be received at a specific contact point.
Updated advice from the HSE is available on its website – https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
The Department of Education and Skills will ensure all updated advice is circulated to schools. Kolbe Special School will arrange for this advice to be circulated to staff, pupils and visitors in a timely manner.
7. Managing the risk of spread of COVID-19
- Wash your Hands Frequently
Follow the HSE guidelines on handwashing:
For advice from HSE on how to wash your hands the following link will be helpful: https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/how-to-wash-your-hands.html
- Hand Hygiene and Hand Sanitisers
Hand sanitisers are more readily deployed throughout the school. They will be at the school entrance, the entry and exit of each class and within the classroom. Hand sanitiser will also be at points throughout the school.
- Avoid Touching Eyes, Nose and Mouth
- Physical Distancing
Note: Guidance on the physical distancing requirements will be informed by public health advice for schools and will be updated.
- Practice respiratory hygiene
By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and Covid-19.
The pupils of Kolbe Special School cannot practice proper respiratory hygiene or physical distancing. It is therefore essential that staff maintain high care in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 within their class and throughout the school.
Good hygiene practices and washing your hands properly and regularly can help stop the spread of the virus. It is, therefore, crucial that all staff adhere to this advice and adopt the following practices as strictly as possible.
- Do
- Wash your hands properly and often
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough and sneeze
- Put used tissues into a bin and wash your hands
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Do Not
- Touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
- Share objects that touch your mouth – for example, bottles, cups, cutlery, etc.
- 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 you're 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
- severe respiratory conditions including cystic fibrosis, severe asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, lung fibrosis, interstitial lung disease and severe COPD
- have a condition that means you 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 you are pregnant.
If the Board/Principal is unsure whether or not staff fall into the very high-risk category, advice will be sought from the Occupational Health Service.
8. Control Measures
A range of essential control measures have been implemented to reduce the risk of the spread of Covid-19 virus and to protect the safety, health and welfare of staff, pupils, parents/guardians and visitors as far as possible within the school.
These control measures are outlined in this document.
The control measures shall continue to be reviewed and updated as required on an ongoing basis.
It is critical that staff, pupils, parents/guardians and visitors are aware of, and adhere to, the control measures outlined and that they fully cooperate with all health and safety requirements.
Staff, in particular, should note that they have a legal obligation under Section 13 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to comply with health and safety requirements and to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves, their colleagues and other parties within the workplace.
The following control measures have been put in place:
- Return to Work Form
- Induction Training
- 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
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.
- Induction Training for Return to School
https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/summerprovision/summer-education-programme-2020.html#SchoolBased
- Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
Guidance documentation and Information posters will be available at various locations within the school. Information posters will be prominently displayed at appropriate locations within the school facility including offices, corridors, staffroom area, classrooms and toilet areas. Such are intended to inform but also remind everyone about the importance of hygiene in preventing the spread of Covid-19 virus and protecting health and safety.
Handwashing facilities and/or hand sanitisers are available at multiple locations within the school and will be available in each classroom.
PPE will not be required to be worn within the school facility according to current occupational and public health guidance.
However, at Kolbe Special School, PPE will need to be used constantly due to the nature of certain work activities or work areas.
Staff will be required to wear facemasks, visors and aprons when
- Performing intimate care
- Feeding
- Where a suspected case of Covid-19 is identified while the school is in operation
- When working close to a pupil where a safe physical distance cannot be maintained
- When dealing with behaviours of concern
The school nurses will apply standard precautions as per usual nursing and HSE practice.
The use of a face covering will conceal facial expression and can make communication difficult. The staff at Kolbe Special School acknowledge this, however, as a duty of care to our very vulnerable pupils there will be times when staff will have no option.
Staff will also wear a visor as an alternative to a facial covering. There will be times when staff will need to wear both.
- Wearing of Gloves:
- Cleaning
Regular and thorough cleaning of communal areas and frequently touched surfaces shall be conducted, in particular, toilets, door handles. Cleaning will be performed regularly and whenever facilities or surfaces are visibly dirty.
All staff will have access to cleaning products and will be required to maintain cleanliness of their own work area. Under no circumstances should these cleaning materials be removed from the building.
Staff should thoroughly clean and disinfect their own classroom and bathroom before and after use each day.
There will be regular collection of used waste disposal bags from offices and other areas within the school facility.
Staff must use and clean their own equipment and utensils (cup, cutlery, plate etc.).
Access to the school facility will be in line with agreed school procedures.
Arrangement for necessary visitors such as contractors and parents/guardians with be restricted to essential purposes and limited to those who have obtained prior approval from the Principal.
The prompt identification and isolation of potentially infectious individuals is a crucial step in restricting the spread of the virus and protecting the health and safety of the individuals themselves and other staff, contractors and visitors at the workplace. A detailed sign in/sign out log of those entering the school facilities should be maintained. The school should maintain a log of staff and students contacts. Click here to download a copy of the Contact Tracking Log
9. 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 Kolbe Special School will deal with a suspected case that may arise during the course of work.
A designated isolation room has been identified. It will be the pre-fab beside the secretary’s office. In the possibility of more than one person displaying signs of Covid-19 the following will apply
- If two pupils who are wheelchair users display symptoms of COVID-19 they will both go to the isolation where they can be socially distanced more than 2m apart.
- For all other situations 1 pupil will go to the isolation room and the other pupil will go the quiet area in their classroom.
The designated isolation areas are behind a closed door and away from other staff and pupils.
If a staff member/pupil displays symptoms of Covid-19 while at work in Kolbe Special School the following are the procedures to be implemented:
- If the person with the suspected case is a pupil, the parents/guardians should be contacted immediately.
- If a pupil needs to be isolated the following procedure will apply
- A Nurse/staff member from the pupil’s class will accompany them to the isolation area via an isolation route
- As a Nurse/staff member may not be able to keep 2metres apart from the pupil they will be required to wear a face mask, a visor and an apron
- The pupil will remain in isolation until a parent can come and collect them. Parents will be advised to inform their general practitioner by phone of their child’s symptoms.
- A pupil displaying symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to go home on school bus transport.
- If they are too unwell to go home or advice is required, the school nurse will 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.
- Carry out an assessment of the incident which will form part of determining follow-up actions and recovery
If a staff member displays symptoms of COVID-19 the following procedures will apply
- Provide a mask for the person presenting with symptoms if one is available. He/she should wear the mask if in a common area with other people or while exiting the premises
- Assess whether the staff member who is displaying symptoms can immediately be directed to go home
- Advise them to call their doctor and continue self-isolation at home
- If a staff member cannot go home and need to wait for someone to collect them facilitate them to remain in isolation and facilitate them calling their doctor.
- 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 the disposable tissue provided when they cough or sneeze and put the tissue in the waste bag provided
- If they are too unwell to go home or advice is required, the school nurse will 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.
- Carry out an assessment of the incident which will form part of determining follow-up actions and recovery
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 confidentiality is essential at all times. As soon as the school receives confirmation of a positive case of COVID-19, the school will inform parents and follow the guidelines from the HSE.
If a pupil or a staff member goes home sick from school with a suspected case of COVID-19 under GDPR and Data Protection the school will not be letting staff or parents know.
10. 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. In order to facilitate a safe return to work, these duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Adhere to the School Covid-19 Response Plan and the control measures outlined. The co-operation 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
- Co-ordinate 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 and contact their GP promptly for further advice if they display any symptoms of Covid-19
- Not return 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
- Complete the RTW form before they return to work
- Must inform the Principal if there are any other circumstances relating to Covid-19, 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
- Keep informed of the updated advice of the public health authorities and comply with same.
11. COVID-19 Related Absence Management
The management of a COVID-19 related absence will be managed in line with agreed procedures with DES.
See circular 0049/2020
12. Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme
The Board of Management aims to protect and support the health and wellbeing of all staff (physical, mental, spiritual etc.) both at work, whether in the school facility or at home and outside of work. The Board of Management is mindful that the support and promotion of staff health and wellbeing is particularly important in the current context where the Covid-19 pandemic has caused considerable challenges for, and disruption to, people’s personal, family and social lives as well as their work arrangements.
The Board of Management aims to foster a culture and work environment that support healthy behaviours and staff wellbeing and shall continue to make health and wellbeing tools and guidance available to staff as well as organising suitable support programmes, initiatives and events.
These are challenging times for everyone. Should a staff member experience any stress or anxiety in respect of work or work arrangements, he/she should feel free to speak to the principal.
Planning for the Curriculum
1. Introduction
As a response to the COVID-19 Pandemic our curriculum delivery has been temporarily reshaped to ensure the safety and recovery of our whole school community. It is vital that we focus on individuals’ wellbeing and mental health in light of real or perceived trauma caused by recent events while ensuring environments are safe for all members of the school community.
As our pupils will not have been in school for a period of over five months the start of our school year will be considered as a transition for all – a transition from home to school, a reconnection with friends and staff.
Kolbe Special School recognises that some parents and pupils may be anxious about returning to school. However, the physical return to school offers a welcome opportunity for pupils to receive social connections, to re-bond with friends and to and to spend time with adults who are significant to them.
Alongside the changes to our curriculum the manner in which the school operates has been altered as a response to COVID-19.
- All areas in school will be zoned & timetabled,
- Some areas will have reduced equipment,
- There is new signage to support hygiene and social distancing
- Procedures are now in place to ensure regular cleaning can take place across the school day.
- Each class will now become a bubble. Some class bubbles may sub-divide into class pods
- Each class bubble will now enter and exit the school to and from their rooms or the nearest entrance/exit
2. Individual Planning
Planning will be informed through conversations with families and through the collation of information from “All About Me” documents which detail each child’s experience while at home. It will contain individual strategies to support developing communication, ensuring transitions are well planned for and supported, that environments are adapted and account for learner need, how plans support learners to feel safe and stay safe and how outcomes from the curriculum will be met through the implementation of the recovery curriculum.
Success Is Pupils receive a variety of learning opportunities that are personalised to each learning outcome and that account for the breadth and ambition of our curriculum while focusing on wellbeing and positive mental health.
3. Using Specialist Rooms
Each class bubble must ensure that all pupil’s hands are sanitized before and after they enter another zone of the school. Specialist rooms and equipment will have to be cleaned by each class bubble after each use. Shared specialist spaces will be timetabled to enable appropriate cleaning between sessions and to continue to enhance our curriculum.
Access to outdoor area & PE hall will enhance the recovery curriculum and the experience of our pupils. It is paramount that they are utilised in a safe manner for the consideration of all in the school.
Soft Play – The soft play room will be accessed by one class in the morning and one in the afternoon to allow for full cleaning within sessions.
Sensory trolley – The sensory trolley will be accessed by one class in the morning and one in the afternoon to allow for full cleaning within sessions.
Nurses Station- Pupils will be brought by a member of their class to the Nurses. They will wait outside the door until the pupil is brought into the Nurses room. The Nurse will bring the pupil back to their classroom and wait with them outside the classroom until a class member brings them in. The Nurses room will be cleaned between each pupil.
Hall – Staff will continue to be mindful to wipe down equipment that has been used wearing gloves and using appropriate supplied disinfectant.
Corridors – Staff will ensure that pupils using the corridor will not travel in groups, and if pupils touch anything that it is cleaned appropriately.
OT, Physiotherapy & Speech & Language Therapist –
- The school will be informed beforehand that a therapist/Reps associated with them is visiting the school.
- They must sign the Visitor’s Tracing Log.
- The therapists will be provided with a work space in an outside area.
- Therapists will be required to wear a face mask when working closely with a pupil.
- A staff member will bring a pupil to the therapist and collect them
Success Is Children will have their curriculum enhanced through the use of specialist rooms in a planned for manner to reduce risk and ensure the safety and wellbeing of students.
4. Shared Equipment and Outdoor Spaces
Kolbe Special school provides engaging learning opportunities through our teaching experiences, our engaging equipment and exciting outdoor spaces. Our response to COVID-19 will mean the way we deliver our curriculum, including how we use equipment and outdoor spaces will need to change. Learning environments have been reorganised to reduce to contact points through appropriate storing of equipment.
- Resources are stored away from children and once used are disinfected before being stored for to reduce risk.
- Children will have individual resource packs for items used regularly. This will reduce the handling of items in school.
- Shared specialist spaces including outdoor areas will be timetabled to enable appropriate cleaning between sessions and to continue to enhance our curriculum offer. Classrooms being used by named bubbles will have access to an outdoor timetabled area. Bubbles will know how to enter and exit the school to and from their rooms. Some areas will have reduced equipment
- There will be new signage to support hygiene and social distancing
- Procedures are now in place to ensure regular cleaning can take place across the school day. Staff will be required under infection control to deep clean their room every day when pupils leave the premises, this means work will not finish until 3:10pm each day.
Access to outdoor spaces will enhance the recovery curriculum and the experience of our learner. It is paramount that they are utilised in a safe manner for the consideration of all school. All staff will continue with increased hygiene procedures.
Toys: Staff will bring resources to children to engage with. Once finished with, they will be disinfected and stored to reduce risk before being accessed again.
Interactive White boards: Screens must be wiped down between use, same with switches
Bikes and Scooters: Seating and handles will continue to be regularly wiped down and disinfected across the school day.
General Learning Equipment: Additional or multiple items will be used by staff to reduce the sharing of equipment. These could include books, activities and sensory stories. There will be no sharing of resources between class bubbles.
Playground: Playtimes will be staggered to reduced children’s contact with other bubbles. At the end of each play time all handles, seating and climbing points swing seating, swing handles, handles, benches will be wiped down and disinfected. Pupils hand to be sanitized before entry and exit of playground.
Success Is Children will have their curriculum enhanced through the use of shared equipment and outdoor areas in a planned for manner to reduce risk and ensure the safety and wellbeing of students.
5. Pupil Lunches
Lunchtime provides opportunity for our pupils to develop social skills, independence and to fuel up ready for the rest of the day! As a response to the current pandemic our arrangements for lunches has been altered to reduce levels of risk in a variety of ways.
- All pupils will remain in their bubbles to eat their lunches.
- Staff will let Eileen know the dinner orders each morning
- One member of staff will collect lunches and equipment including cutlery, cups and crockery for their class bubble at a specified time. The collection of pupil’s dinners will be staggered.
- Pupils who send in packed lunches, they will be stored in classroom fridges.
- Tables will be disinfected before and after eating. This will be done by the class staff.
- All children will undertake supervised handwashing before eating.
- Staff should wear a face shield/mask and apron when feed pupils in close proximity. Where feeding can be problematic (pupils cough up food or spray food and saliva)
All equipment, will be returned to the kitchen by one member of staff using a trolley or tray, to be boil washed in the dishwasher in preparation for the next day.
A trolley plan to be devised for the Hospital Dinner Trolley (who washing/clearing etc. for HSE collection).
6. Using Bathrooms and Toilets
Good toilet hygiene and handwashing is paramount to limiting the spread of Covid 19. We will continue to encourage good hygiene for all pupils who are using either toilets or the specialist bathrooms.
Bathrooms:
- We will continue to use PPE (aprons and gloves) for all personal care routines.
- Face masks/shields will be worn by staff as necessary.
- As usual, the changing bed and door handles will be wiped down (inside and outside the room) following each use. Disinfectant can be found in each changing area.
- Hoists and other pieces of specialist equipment will need wiping down after each use
- Separate slings must be used for each individual pupil.
- Checklists will remind staff of appropriate actions to ensure safe working practices.
Toilets:
- Staff should supervise pupils using the toilets to support the message that good hand hygiene following use of the toilet is important, not only during Covid 19 but generally.
- Staff should be modelling or verbally supporting pupils to wash their hands correctly. Pupils should be encouraged to follow the good handwashing guidance in all toilets.
- Staff will disinfect the toilet, handbasin, door handles inside and outside the door following each use.
Staff Toilets:
- Staff will be advised to clean as they go.
- Disinfectant products will be provided in the staff toilets
Success is Pupils and staff are safer because pupils will continue to be encouraged to wash their hands following use in the bathrooms or toilets to reduce risk.
7. MOVING AND HANDLING
Mobility is vital, if not critical for many of our pupils. Good hygiene and handwashing is paramount to limiting the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to encourage good hygiene for all pupils and staff who are using any M&H equipment in classrooms and bathrooms.
Follow guidance on: Pupil Toilets and Bathrooms when using equipment in those areas.
General:
- Appropriate PPE to be worn for all Moving & Handling tasks.
- Hoists and other pieces of specialist equipment will be wiped down after each use
- Pupils must use their usual individual slings.
- When M&H it is difficult to maintain distance, however staff should only be in close contact for as long as is required then move out of that space. Staff to work with minimal amount of staff partners. (Primary and Secondary split).
Ceiling Hoist: Staff to wipe down touch contact points on the hoist handset and spreader bar after each use/change in staff.
Mobile hoists: Staff to wipe down touch contact points- handset, spreader bar, controls, and push handles after each use/change in staff.
Slings (school ones) are allocated to an individual child or young person. These should be laundered weekly following the washing instructions that are on the sling. Parents to wash home slings also. Slings can be air dried over night or put outside in the sunshine, or follow washing instruction to see it they can be tumble dried.
Handling belts: must be for individual pupil use. They should be wiped after each use and laundered as per cleaning instructions.
Walkers: wipe touch contact points after each use.
Standing frames: Wipe contact points between uses (push handles, levers used, belt clasps and hand set controls).
Specialist seating: in school (class chairs); Wipe contact points between uses (push handles, levers used, belt clasps and hand set controls).
Wheelchairs: (home chairs); on arrival at school; wipe push handles, levers, belt clasps and handset controls.
Success Is Pupils access equipment to develop or maintain their physicality while increasing their wellbeing in an environment that has prioritised safety
8. Communication
During this term of global uncertainty we recognise more than ever the importance of transparent, supportive communication: for our colleagues, our families and our pupils. Information will continue to be communicated as clearly as possible using our school’s systems: Aladdin, email, post and telephone. We will provide clarity and reassurance where needed and will signpost to resources where helpful.
Our pupil’s communication is supported through social stories, PECs, Lámh, Objects of Refence etc.
Our Recovery Curriculum recognises that many children may not have used their communication systems during the last few months as families intrinsically know what their children want or need. Social communication pressures many have been eased or removed to support coping mechanisms. We will seek to encourage our children’s voice and recognise the necessity to provide times to talk, share and make sense of it all.
9. Behaviour and Physical Intervention
At Kolbe Special School we aim to maintain a safe, caring and stimulating environment in which our children and young people are encouraged to have respect for themselves and each other. Whilst expectations in our Behaviour Policy remain pertinent, it is necessary, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, to make some adjustments for the safety of all pupils and staff.
We accept that behaviours are likely to have changed as a response to the pandemic. This may be seen through physical or emotional responses to situations and activities linked to returning back to school, remaining at home or returning to some altered routines and structures.
We acknowledge that pupils will have had a range of different experiences during the lockdown period, which may impact on their behaviour presentation at school. Some may present with frustration as a result of being isolated from friends and familiar routine. Others may have experienced bereavement or loss or another, real or perceived, traumatic episode.
For many, the process of re-engagement with learning and the school community, under unusual circumstances, may require some additional input and encouragement.
As a result of these varied experiences children may present with behaviour that is not usual, this may include;
- Anxiety; lack of confidence
- Challenging behaviour; fight or flight response
- Anger; shouting, crying
- Hyperactivity and difficulties maintaining attention
Kolbe Special School recognises that behaviour could be a sign that for some individual children there is an unfulfilled need and that the behaviour is communicating that there is a problem. We will continue to undertake an individual risk assessment for children and use reasonable endeavours to make the necessary adjustments to reduce the stimulus that may be triggering the challenging response.
If necessary, the school will seek whatever external support is available from other agencies such as the visiting Professionals, Social Worker, Psychologist, Doctor.
Use of Physical Intervention: When faced with behaviours that challenge de-escalation remains the school’s first response. Pupils should be given time to calm and the Recovery Curriculum in current use should allow time and space for pupils to de-escalate and calm. The school will continue to follow all policies on managing behaviours of concern.
Success Is Recognising a communication so that behaviours that challenge are addressed and managed safely and swiftly.
10. Parental Responsibilities
The success of Kolbe Special School is reliant upon the partnerships we have in place with our pupils and their families. Parents and carers are the experts in their children. It is vital that we continue to work in the best interests of our pupils. Parents have been consulted and
Parents will have to agree to:
- Keep their child absent from school at the first sign of any illness and to inform school as soon as possible if you suspect your child has developed COVID-19 symptoms
- Inform the school as soon as possible if your child has developed any illness and will be absent from school
- Follow current HSE guidelines for self- isolation if your child or any family member falls ill with COVID-19 symptoms
- Collect your child immediately from school if he/she falls ill during school hours – or have emergency plans in place for an agreed contact to collect your child.
- Keep pupil belongings to a minimum – where possible 1 school bag containing personal care items, spare clothes and necessary school requirements containing no toys from home. This does not include your child’s sensory resources such as chew buddies or fiddle toys but these should be clearly named.
- Send in weekly wipes, daily bibs, wash bag, sanitiser, nappies.
- A complete change of clean clothes
Success Is Parent and school partnerships ensure a safe environment for the whole school community.
11. Home Learning/Blended Learning
It is the aim of Kolbe Special School to support our pupils in the best way we can in this time of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We recognise and endorse the roll of the Parents/Guardians as the primary educators of their children. All blended learning opportunities are optional and it is at the discretion of the Parent/ Guardian to engage with these.
For children who are unable to attend school due to, Parental decision around risk, class or school closure due to COVID-19 or class closure due to insufficient staffing, blended learning activities will be provided.
Whilst it is acknowledged that it is hard to provide for the educational needs of our pupils without face to face contact, if blended learning is needed the following will be offered.
- A pack of activities will be sent home with each child if a period of home learning is anticipated.
- Weekly learning activities will be sent to Parents/Guardians
- Online learning activities will be offered over Zoom as appropriate.
- Any other Department of Education directives regarding the redeployment of S.N.As will be followed.
- Teachers will engage with individual families to provide where possible further individualised supports.
12. School Transport
Travelling on School Bus
Getting pupils to and from school safely is part of the planning to re-opening schools. According to the Roadmap for the re-opening of schools the School Transport Scheme will operate as normal for the next school year 2020/2021.
Observing hygiene requirements will be a key for all those travelling on the bus to Kolbe Special School and the following requirements will be are
- Please do not put your child on the bus if they are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or are generally unwell.
- If your child displays symptoms of COVID-19 in school they will not be able to travel home on the school bus.
- The Bus Escort will be required to wear face masks and visors.
- Parents are asked to wipe down wheelchair handles directly before handing over care
- Parents are asked to wipe down school bags just before your child gets on the bus and as soon as they arrive home
- Bus Escorts will sanitise the touch areas on the bus
- Parents/Guardians who are bringing their child to and from school are asked to bring their child to the main door.
- Parents/Guardians when dropping off and collecting their child are asked to phone the school prior to arrival to ensure a staff member is there to meet them
- A member of staff from your child’s class will come to the main door and bring them to their classroom
- Parents are asked to wipe down school bags just before they hand over their child and as soon as they collect them
- Parents are asked to wear a face mask and use hand sanitiser provided when dropping off and collecting their child.
- Parents are asked to wipe down wheelchair handles before handing over care
- Parents are asked to observe social distancing
- Only one class bubble or members of a class bubble at a time can go out on the bus
- There will be no mixing of class bubbles on Kolbe School Bus
- Each class bubble must ensure that the bus has been sanitised before and after use.
- Depending on the planned activity staff must ensure that the Health and Safety needs of both staff and pupils is paramount and must be adhered to.
13. Keeping in Touch
At Kolbe Special School, the health, safety and well-being of every child and young person is our first priority. Kolbe Special School recognises that school is a protective factor for children and young people and the current circumstances, can affect the well-being of pupils and their parents/carers. It is also important that our pupils and their families remain connected to school as part of our whole school community.
Where pupils continue to self-isolate and shield at home, we still have a safeguarding duty of care to ensure that we keep in touch with pupils and their families. We will do this weekly by telephone, email or over Zoom at least once a week and record it on plans, using the ‘COVID-19 Conversations’ tag. Calls as completed by, or at the direction of the class teacher and must be completed by 3pm Every Friday.
If safeguarding concerns are picked up, the usual procedures will apply and be put in place as per our Child Protection Policy.
When contacting families, teachers should be aware of GDPR requirements. All contact details should remain confidential and should not be in hard copy form.
Teachers and school staff should continue to use a school phone/email address to make contact with families ensuring their personal contact details are kept confidential. Calls can also be made to families where their children are attending school.
School staff can give parents their school email addresses but not personal email details.
Aim:
- Ensure all pupils/families have contact from staff, at least once per week.
- Where possible learning/activities can continue at home through work provided.
- All vulnerable families have additional contact and support with any concerns reported and recorded.
We’ll visit families at home too if HSE permits it and parents would appreciate it, this could be just to say hi, drop something off.
Success Is Relationships across the whole school community are maintained or strengthened. Pupils and parents are engaged, which will increase their resilience during Covid-19. School will be able to provide support when it is needed.