Representatives of Fórsa’s education division met Minister for Special Education Josepha Madigan yesterday (Wednesday 29^th July) to discuss the special education aspects of the Government’s schools’ reopening plan.

The union’s head of education, Andy Pike, led the discussion, which covered the establishment of a system for employing substitute SNAs on the same basis as teachers to ensure that schools have enough staff when they reopen. The need for adequate PPE for SNAs was also discussed, along with the need to agree a new minimum qualification to become an SNA. Further dialogue on those matters will continue over the coming weeks.

Earlier in the week, Fórsa welcomed the publication of the roadmap for resuming schooling, and the €350 million extra funding promised to the sector. But the union expressed disappointment at the lack of detail on special education, and on the important role of secretaries and caretakers. These shortcomings reflect the educations department’s habit of rarely prioritising the interests of special education and non-teaching staff.

Positive gains

But this shouldn’t obscure the positive elements of the plan, which will increase confidence that schools can be re-opened as safely as possible at the end of next month. The positive elements include:  

• Fully-funded cover for cover for replacement SNAs, school Secretaries and caretakers. Almost €15 million has been allocated for replacements for staff who can’t attend work because of underlying health conditions or Covid-related sickness. This is the first time the department has included school secretary cover along with provisions for teachers and SNAs who are public servants
• A change of emphasis on use of PPE by SNAs and staff who cannot maintain social distancing. The department’s initial view was that SNAs need not wear PPE to any great extent. This has changed on foot of representations by Fórsa – now there is provision for SNAs to use PPE as required. And there will be a training module on the appropriate use of PPE, delivered before schools open. Schools will also be supplied with visors, masks, sanitisers, gloves and aprons. SNAs will be able to use this PPE when working with students where they cannot maintain social distancing. The union will be producing advice on this prior to the re-opening
• Advice on cleaning, which makes it clear that SNAs are not expected to deep clean schools. The cleaning protocols for school buildings are detailed and exacting with €52 million of additional funds being made available for schools to conduct between four and six hours of specialised cleaning each day
• Useful advice on sanitising commonly-used classroom items. This indicates the items that should be sanitised after use on a routine basis
• A decision that face coverings will be used by older students if class sizes are too large to maintain social distancing
• Recognition of the need to plan for remote supports if students with additional care needs cannot attend
• Additional funding for SEN by way of NEPs posts
• Advice and funding on SEN school transport and bus escorts
• A commitment that Covid-19 special leave entitlements will be based on a public service-wide approach currently under discussion at national level.

Fórsa also secured a second non-teaching Covid-19 lead worker representative for primary schools with more than 30 staff. The rep will have paid time off. The union also secured a second non-teaching Covid-19 lead worker representative for post-primary schools where there is a significant number of non-teaching staff, with paid time off.

Some negatives

There are also areas where the guidance is not strong enough, and this will require further discussion with the Department of Education and Skills. They include:

• Schools must have screening on public reception counters to protect school secretaries where this does not already exist. They must also confirm that PPE will be provided to them as required. The fact the department failed to even mention this requirement in the guidance is unacceptable
• The Department needs to confirm that the use of PPE is recommended – and not simply optional – for SNAs in classes that don’t have one metre social distancing
• More guidance is needed on infection control issues for SNAs carrying out personal and intimate care, with examples of how to practice safely
• Clarification is needed in respect of some Covid-19 activities in order to prevent presumptions that SNAs or secretaries are responsible for dealing with students in isolation rooms, or that SNAs should provide class supervision in the absence of the SET
• More needs to be said about the identification of students with symptoms and procedures for ensuring that they don’t attend schools
• Schools need to work on assembling substitute panels now, as staff may need to be vetted. Otherwise, replacements will not be available in time
• SNA panels should be formed with staff paid for the year, and available to fill vacancies as they arise in designated schools. Fórsa has already raised this with the minister
• More SNA staff will be needed if the pod and bubble approach is to succeed. This is because many SNAs move between different classes and year groups, and this could undermine the integrity of pods. The guidance glosses over this issue – and more SNAs will be needed if the objective is to minimise interaction
• Covid-19 declarations should be sought very quickly, not three days before term starts. This is the only way to quantify the number of substitutes needed.

Fórsa has raised these issues and will be discussing them with the department over the next week to ensure further clarification and safeguards prior to re-opening.

Advice on Covid-19 special leave and underlying health conditions will issue once national discussions covering all the civil and public sector have concluded.

And Fórsa has secured a commitment that, for the first time, school secretaries will be included in arrangements for paid leave for schools’ staff affected by health issues related to Covid-19. Further details will issue on this shortly.

If you have questions or concerns, you can contact the union HERE.

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