“Subject to medical guidance and safety it would be my aim to see a phased reopening of schools, beginning with a limited provision for key cohort years in late August, followed by phased provision for all pupils at the beginning of September. This will not be a return to school as it was prior to COVID, but rather a new normal reflective of social distancing and a medically safe regime. For all pupils it will involve a schedule with a mixture of school attendance and remote learning at home.
In closing, Mr Deputy Speaker, may I say this is the biggest public health crisis we have faced in living memory and the Executive’s priority is to help keep people safe and to support those who have faced real hardship.
My Department and the wider education sector will continue to play a full part in the ongoing effort, whilst also focussing on the future, for when we return to some kind of normality”.
