COVID-19 Response Plan

COVID-19 Response Plan

Cara Junior School Response Plan COVID-19

The Board of Management of Cara Junior School prepared this response plan to support the safe resumption of school-based teaching and learning and the safe return of staff to the school building.

The plan outlines procedures and controls in line with public health advice and Department of Education guidance. It covers planning, staff responsibilities, school operations, cleaning, PPE, suspected cases and related appendices.

Preparation for Return to School

Before reopening for the 2020/2021 school year, the school planned a number of actions to support a safe return.

• Monitor public health advice and communicate relevant information to stakeholders.
• Carry out induction training for staff.
• Inform staff members of their roles and responsibilities.
• Put a comprehensive risk assessment in place.
• Adapt buildings in response to COVID-19 recommended practices.

Procedures During Reopening

• Hygiene and cleaning procedures to be COVID-19 compliant.
• PPE to be used in line with Department guidance.
• Staff to assist pupils in understanding physical distancing to the best of their individual ability.
• Procedures to be in place for suspected COVID-19 cases.
• Behaviour management and absence management procedures to be considered.

Staff Responsibilities

Staff have a statutory obligation to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of colleagues and others. The plan states that cooperation from all staff is essential to reduce the risk of spread.

• Adhere to the school COVID-19 Response Plan and control measures.
• Complete the Return to Work form before returning to school.
• Complete COVID-19 induction training and any required training.
• Follow good hygiene and respiratory etiquette practices.
• Maintain physical distancing where possible.
• Monitor personal wellbeing and symptoms.
• Self-isolate at home and contact a GP if symptoms develop.
• Cooperate with contact tracing and public health advice.

Lead Worker Representative

The plan includes the appointment of a Lead Worker Representative. The LWR works with school management to assist in implementing and monitoring measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

The document notes that Laura Ankettell was elected as Lead Worker Representative before the school reopening week beginning 24 August 2020.

Risk Assessment and Buildings

The school response plan required the health and safety risk assessment to be updated. It also included building checks after low usage and occupation during lockdown.

• Review and update health and safety risk assessment.
• Check water systems and outlets where low usage may have occurred.
• Check school equipment and mechanical ventilation for deterioration or damage.
• Resume essential services including bin collections.
• Display signage throughout the school.

Physical Distancing

The plan recognises that it is not always possible for staff to maintain physical distance from pupils, and that it would not always be appropriate where this could negatively affect a pupil’s care, reassurance or first-aid needs.

Where possible, staff should maintain distance and take measures to avoid close face-to-face contact. Desks, classroom layouts and floor markings were to be adapted where appropriate.

Visitor Protocol

Access to the school building was to follow agreed school procedures, with sign-in and sign-out logs maintained for visitors.

• Maintain detailed logs of those entering the school.
• Use hand sanitiser at entry and exit points.
• Visitors during the school day by prior arrangement only.
• Maintain physical distancing between staff and visitors where possible.
• Use reception procedures and Perspex screening.

Ventilation

The plan includes a ventilation section based on Department guidance. It notes that windows should be open as fully as possible when classrooms are not in use and partially open when classrooms are in use, while balancing ventilation with comfort.

Class Bubbles and Class Interaction

Classes were to be paired with partner classes, with interactions such as break times, yard times, supervision and staff absence management restricted to class bubbles and staff pairings as far as possible.

School Transport

The plan outlined procedures for buses and taxis, including staggered arrivals, different entry points for class bubbles, hand sanitising on entry and exit, and reducing the need for escorts to enter the school building.

Hygiene and Cleaning

The response plan includes respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene, cleaning products, shared resources and PPE procedures.

• Bins with liners for disposal of tissues and PPE.
• Frequent handwashing and hand sanitising.
• Posters on hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene.
• Surface sanitiser and cloths available for classroom use.
• Work areas and classrooms sanitised during the day.
• Shared resources cleaned between use where needed.
• Cleaning products stored safely out of pupil reach.

PPE

The plan states that visors and masks were provided for staff and that Department and Health and Safety Authority guidance would be monitored. It notes that masks can reduce communication for younger pupils and pupils with additional needs, who may rely on seeing facial expressions, gestures and speech.

Dealing with a Suspected Case

The plan includes a procedure for dealing with a suspected case of COVID-19 in school. A designated isolation area was identified upstairs in the medical room.

1. If the person is a pupil, parents or guardians should be contacted immediately.
2. The person should be isolated and accompanied to the isolation area safely.
3. Others should maintain distance from the symptomatic person.
4. A face covering or mask should be used where appropriate.
5. The person should go home or be collected as soon as possible.
6. Public transport or school transport should not be used.
7. If the person is too unwell to go home, call 999 or 112.
8. Follow-up actions and cleaning should be arranged.

Cleaning After a Suspected Case

The plan sets out cleaning and disinfecting procedures for rooms or areas where a suspected case has been present. The room should not be reused until it has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and surfaces are dry.

Behaviour Management

The plan recognises that behaviour support continued to be important. It refers to Pivotal MAPA and states that holds should only be used in emergency situations after careful risk assessment.

Staff teams were asked to use pre-emptive strategies and review incidents that trigger pupils, with behaviour support plans developed, reviewed and revised where necessary.

Absence Management

COVID-19-related absence was to be managed in line with Department of Education procedures. Staff wellbeing supports were also referenced through the Employee Assistance Service and Occupational Health supports.

Appendices Included

The response plan includes several appendices and checklists, including:

• Pre-Return to Work Questionnaire.
• Procedure for Returning to Work.
• Contact Tracing Log.
• Addendum to GDPR Policy regarding COVID-19 protocols.
• Class Management Plan.
• Lead Worker Representative guidance.
• Cleaning procedure for toys and shared equipment.
• Procedure for dealing with a suspected case.
• School management checklist.
• Cleaning checklist.

Ratification and Review

The plan was ratified by the Board of Management in August 2020. The document shows Chairperson Seamus Feehan and the date 18 August 2020. It also notes that the policy must be regarded as a live document and is subject to frequent modification in line with public health and Department requirements.