The Government has pledged that pupil-teacher ratios at primary level will be reduced by an average of one student per class. In the Budget 2021 speech, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform said this will be achieved by the addition of more teaching posts.

On special education needs, the minister also outlined a government pledge to hire 990 extra Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and 403 additional teaching posts. The union’s head of education Andy Pike welcomed the additional SNA posts in this piece which is now up on the website.

The joint provisional liquidators of the Irish arm of fashion retailer Debenhams have been granted a High Court injunction preventing unlawful actions and interference with efforts to remove stock from its former high street stores. The injunction applies to any persons with knowledge of the order which is to be affixed to the entrances of the stores and shopping centre entrances in which they are located. More on that here.

The National Women’s Council’s response to the Budget raised concern at the lack of any additional investment into delivering a public model of childcare, at a time when the pandemic exposed how crucial childcare was for the functioning of the society and economy.

Northern Ireland is set for a period of intensified coronavirus restrictions after executive ministers agreed to closures of schools, pubs and restaurants. It is understood that pubs and restaurants will close for four weeks, with the exception of takeaways, while schools will close for two, one of which will cover the half-term Halloween break.

And finally, today’s zen is a track from the 'Jimi Hendrix Experience' which was released on this day in 1966. Enjoy!