TESS Return to School FAQs

What does “very high risk” mean? – DES Guidance requires a child to be “medically certified” as being at very high risk of Covid-19. Please consult your GP, or child’s care team regarding this.

My child is immuno-compromised/high-risk, what happens if I don’t send him/her to school? – Children who are medically certified as being very high risk will be facilitated by their school to continue their learning by the best means available. Should you require further support please use our contacts list to contact your local area Educational Welfare office.

I/Someone I care for/who lives with us, am/is high-risk, I’m concerned about my child bringing the virus home?

Will I be prosecuted if I keep my child/children home for Covid-19 reasons? (immuno-compromised etc.)

What if there’s a second wave, will schools close again?

Can I home-school my child until the virus is gone? – Under DES Guidelines pupils are expected to attend school as usual except or those who are medically certified as very high risk. Supports are available through TESS to support families anxious about returning to school. Click here to find your local office contact details.

Is it possible to partially home-school my child/children? – In Ireland all children must be registered for education either in a school or as being home educated, there is unfortunately no provision for blended learning. Supports are available through TESS to support families anxious about returning to school. Click here to find your local office contact details.

Can my child wear a mask to school? – The DES recommends that second level students and teachers wear a face covering in school where physical distancing may not be possible. It is not advised that primary level students wear face coverings. Wearing a face covering does not negate the need to stay at home if showing symptoms.

Are there remote learning options for families unhappy with sending their child/children to school as things stand? – Under DES Guidelines pupils are expected to attend school as usual except or those who are medically certified as very high risk. Supports are available through TESS to support families anxious about returning to school. Click here to find your local office contact details.

Who is responsible should a child/teacher/parent fall ill with Covid-19?

What happens if a case of Covid-19 occurs in a classroom? - Management of confirmed cases and outbreaks of COVID-19 in schools will be Public Health led, and action taken will be based on Public Health risk assessment undertaken by the regional Department of Public Health. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach for the management of cases and outbreaks of COVID-19 in schools. This is because every situation and every school is different. Many factors are considered in deciding the right course of action in each individual situation.

What happens if a teacher/student falls ill with Covid-19, must the whole class quarantine etc.? – This will be determined on a case by case basis by the Public Health team leading the management of an outbreak

How are teachers who fall ill and must quarantine to be covered/replaced? – The DES has been working to ensure the appointment and availability of substitute teachers across the country to assist in a situation such as this.

What if a family member of a teacher/student falls ill with Covid-19? Must they then quarantine also? - The DES says that children, teachers and parents should not go to school if they or any members of their household are unwell with symptoms consistent with Covid-19. It is very important that people do not attend schools if they or members of their household are unwell. These households should contact their GP for guidance immediately.

Will my child’s absences be counted against them if they fall ill with Covid-19 or must isolate/quarantine due to family illness?

I don’t want to send my child/children back until there’s a vaccine. – Under DES Guidelines pupils are expected to attend school as usual except or those who are medically certified as very high risk. Supports are available through TESS to support families anxious about returning to school. Click here to find your local office contact details.

I’m unhappy with the government roadmap, I don’t think it’s sufficiently safe.

I’m unhappy with my child/children’s school and feel they are not implementing sufficient safety measures.

I have received a letter from my son’s school saying his class group will only be in school for 2 days a week. My daughter’s school has class every day. Is this allowed? How can I challenge this? Can I make a formal complaint? – Schools have been provided with guidelines from the DES in relation to class size management, implementing social distancing etc. and should use these guidelines to the best of their ability, however each school is different and will have different needs, availability of space and resources etc.

I received a School Attendance Notice from TESS before the lockdown, what happens now? Am I to be prosecuted?

I had a call from the school asking me not to return my child as he has a conduct disorder and the school feels he might not obey the social distancing rules and this poses a health & safety risk. What should I do?

My child’s school has said they are putting cameras in the classroom so that classes can be watched at home on the phone if a child can’t come in to school due to a cold or other minor ailment. If the school does this and he watches the class, is he still marked absent? Sure can’t I just keep him home so? – Under DES Guidelines pupils are expected to attend school as usual except or those who are medically certified as very high risk, as such pupils will be only marked present when they are in attendance. Supports are available through TESS to support families anxious about returning to school. Click here to find your local office contact details.

My child keeps getting in trouble in class for messing and not listening. But he says he doesn’t understand what the teacher is saying because she is wearing a mask.

My 16 year old is meant to be in TY but he is very anxious and refusing to attend. He is with CAMHS but would not engage in the online sessions. Can an EWO be assigned to him to make a reintegration plan with the school? – Support and guidance may be available via your local Education Welfare office, please click here for contact details. The National Educational Psychological Services have also created resources to support those anxious about the return to school, please click here.

Our county is in lockdown but my child attends school in a bordering county, can they still go to school? – According to public health guidelines, people living in a county under localised restrictions are allowed to travel outside the county to attend work, school etc. Public transport shout not be used unless absolutely necessary.

If my county goes into lockdown will the schools close? Will my child still have to go to school?

If my child has to quarantine while being tested will those days be marked absent?

If a child will not be attending school because he/she is very high risk, must the parent provide a medical cert stating this?  (DES guidelines state in this situation the school is responsible for continuity of learning for the child.) – DES guidance requires a child to be medically certified as very high risk, please consult your GP or child’s care team regarding this.

What are my options if my child is unable to attend school due to illness/being high risk/a family member being high risk? – In the case of a child being medically certified as very high risk, it is the responsibility of the school to ensure the child receives appropriate support. The options for this are laid out in the DES Guidance document, click here.

My child does not fall into the public health “Very high risk” category but has asthma and I am not going to send him back to school as I believe it unsafe, the school will not provide remote learning, what do I do to make the school support my child’s education at home until there is a vaccine? – Under DES guidelines all children who are not medically certified as very high risk should return to school. For those experiencing difficulty with this support and guidance is available through the school and TESS. Please click here for contact details of your local office.

I am no longer in a position to home school my child but they are too ill to return to school, what can be done? – Where a child is medically certified as very high risk it is the school’s responsibility to ensure continuity of learning for that child.

A family member has been hospitalised with Covid-19, I’m concerned about my child returning to school for this reason.

One of my children is high risk, I therefore fear sending my other child/children to school, what can I do? – All children not medically certified as very high risk should return to school as normal, taking any precautions that may be in place locally. Support and guidance is available for families anxious about the return to school through TESS, please click here for contact details of your local office.

Does a child have to quarantine for 14 days before returning to school if they have left the country, even if to a green list country? – Government policy in this area continues to apply for everyone, students included. It is a requirement for anyone coming into Ireland, from locations other than those with a rating of ‘normal precautions’ (“green”), to restrict their movements for 14 days. If a school has reasonable grounds for believing that its duty of care toward its staff and pupils is being undermined in circumstances where a person – staff member or pupil - has not observed the mandatory requirement to restrict movements for 14 days following return from a non-green list country, it is reasonable for the school to refuse access to the pupil or staff member during this period.

My child had cold and flu like symptoms, what should I do? How long should I keep them out of school? - Students who have symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, new cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, or loss or change to their sense of smell or taste, should not attend school. Please phone your doctor and follow guidance on self-isolation. Your doctor will advise whether COVID-19 testing is required and will arrange testing if necessary. (Dr Mary Favier says a child who has Covid-19 like symptoms should remain at home until 48 hours after the symptoms pass) & (The President of the Irish College of General Practitioners announced at a NPHET press conference that if a child has sniffles and sneezes the odd time but is “otherwise well” and does not have any symptoms of Covid-19, they can go to school.)

How long will “Covid-19 concern” be an acceptable reason to keep a child out of school? – Under DES guidelines all children who are not medically certified as very high risk should return to school upon school reopening. For those experiencing difficulty with this support and guidance is available through the school and TESS. Please click here for contact details of your local office.