Covid-19 Policy – Scoil Iosa Ballyhaunis

COVID-19 Policy Statement

Scoil Íosa is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our staff and a safe learning environment for all our students. To ensure that, we have developed the following COVID-19 Response Plan. The BOM and all school staff are responsible for the implementation of this plan and a combined effort will help contain the spread of the virus.

We will:

Continue to monitor our COVID-19 response and amend this plan in consultation with our staff.
Provide up to date information to our staff and students on the Public Health advice issued by the HSE and Gov.ie.
Display information on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and correct handwashing techniques.
Agree with staff, a worker representative who is easily identifiable to carry out the role outlined in this plan in relation to summer provision.
Inform all staff and students of essential hygiene and respiratory etiquette and physical distancing requirements.
Adapt the school to facilitate physical distancing as appropriate in line with the public health guidance and direction of the Department of Education.
Keep a contact log to help with contact tracing.
Ensure staff and students engage with the induction / familiarisation briefing provided by the Department of Education
Implement the agreed procedures to be followed in the event of someone showing symptoms of COVID-19 while at school
Provide instructions for staff and students to follow if they develop signs and symptoms of COVID-19 during school time
Implement cleaning in line with Department of Education advice.

All school staff will be consulted on an ongoing basis and feedback is encouraged on any concerns, issues or suggestions. This can be done through the Lead Worker Representative(s), who will be supported in line with the agreement between the Department and education partners.

Signed: ____________________ Date: _____________________

Planning and Implementation

Lead Worker Representative: Kenneth Dennedy (Principal)

Covid Committee members: Kevin Henry (Deputy Principal)

Dónall O’Brien (Assistant Principal 1)

Actions Taken:

All classrooms modified to achieve minimum social distancing where possible.
School has purchased adequate PPE equipment to include Face Masks, Visors, and Gloves.
Sanitising stations have been set up in all mainstream classrooms, in corridor areas, by the school hall and at all entrances exits and toilets in the public areas.
School has purchased a ‘fogging machine’ for use in sanitising the classrooms, all teaching areas, toilets, staffrooms.
School Cleaner employed on a full time 40 hour week with specific daily sanitising duties.
All teaching staff wear Visors or facemasks while accessing the common areas in the school.
Facemasks and visors should be worn during classes when in close proximity to the children or when working on 1-1 interactions with the children.
No unauthorised personnel are permitted in the school building at any time. School personnel or service personnel only.
Parents wishing to collect children for appointments or any other reason must telephone the school in advance of collection to arrange a time for same. Children are taken to the school porch by a member of staff to be delivered to the parents. Masks should be worn by parents at all times while in the school building.
Face to face Parent teacher meetings are suspended until further notice. Telephone consultations may take place strictly by appointment.
Where possible SET teaching will take place within the class bubbles for Infants to Second class. Withdrawal should be for EAL or for children receiving school support plus. In senior classes where withdrawal of pupils is unavoidable, groups should be put together with adequate social distancing provisions in place.
SET teachers to be allocated to specific classes within a common zone where possible
To avoid gatherings of greater than six adults, one classroom/SET room has been nominated as a temporary staffroom within each school Zone. Staffroom space in the school presently consists of three spaces.
Personal storage pods have been purchased for classrooms whereby all personal property belonging to the pupils is removed from the tables daily to facilitate deep cleaning/fogging of the classroom surfaces.
Classrooms should be rearranged to maximise social distancing thus addressing requirements where possible. While this is recommended good practice, it is accepted that this may not be possible in our current overcrowded classes.
Classroom areas have been established in zones to minimise contact between children from outside of the specific class bubbles. The zones have their own separate entrances/exits by which the children access the school building.

The class zones are as follows:

Zone 1: Junior and Senior Infants
Zone 2: First and Second Classes
Zone 3: Third, Fourth and single Fifth Classes
Zone 4: Fifth/Sixth and Sixth Classes.

Each zone may be sealed off by closing the fire doors thus preventing unnecessary movement.

Procedures in Dealing with the occurrence of a Suspected Case of Covid19

The front porch is the designated isolation area for any suspected Covid19 case in pupils. This will be utilised in the event of the pupil displaying more than two symptoms with the virus.
Where a pupil is sent to school with multiple symptoms the teacher will immediately report the situation to the Lead Worker Representative (The Principal) who will immediately contact the child’s parents/Guardian to advise them of the situation and the school policy on dealing with a suspected case of Covid19. The LWR may elect to take the child’s temperature as part of the process to check for further symptoms.
The parents will be advised to:
Come to the school without delay to take the affected pupil from the premises.
Contact the family doctor immediately to seek advice on the appropriate course of action to be followed. Where this involves the pupil being referred to undergo a Covid assessment test, the pupil should remain at home and isolated until such time as a result of the Covid test is forthcoming.
In the event of a negative test result the pupil may return to the school once the family doctor informs the parents that this is appropriate.
In the event of a positive Covid test result the child must be kept in isolation for the minimum recommended period (Currently 10 days) and may not return to school without medical approval. Where such occurs the school will seek advice from the HSE as regards the appropriate course of action to pursue. This may involve closing down a class pod or bubble as advised.

Travel Outside of Ireland.

Given that a large percentage of our enrolment is from newcomer families it is possible that from time to time these families or members of families may travel out of Ireland to visit other countries. There is also a tradition of families taking holidays abroad during the school mid-term breaks or holiday periods. This presents obvious challenges for the school authorities in assessing whether quarantine requirements will have been observed.
Our school procedure/requirements in addressing this situation is as follows:
Regardless of destination, we require that the school authorities (Class teacher or Principal/LWR) must be informed of the dates on which the family will travel and on the date on which the family propose to return to Ireland.
In cases where the country visited is on the government ‘Green List’ of countries, the pupil may come back to school immediately on the family’s return to the country. (Please note that the Green list may be amended on a weekly basis and that while the country may be on the green list on the departure date, it may no longer be so on the family’s return to Ireland. For purposes of our policy ’Green List’ will be determined by the status of the country visited on the family’s return to Ireland.
Where the family returns from a country that is not on the ‘Green List’, the family/person/contacts of those travelling must observe the quarantine /self-isolation requirements as decreed by the NPHET. Under no circumstances should a child return to school if they have travelled to/been in contact with someone who has travelled to a country that is not on the ‘Green List’ on the day of return from travelling.
In cases where families do not observe/refuse to observe these procedures and where the school is made aware of such, this will be treated as a child endangerment issue and the school child Protection Designated Liaison Person (DLP) may seek guidance from or may refer to child protection authorities. It will also be incumbent on the school authorities to report such cases to the HSE.

Teacher/Staff Absence/Covid Related Sick Leave.

Scoil Íosa will observe current advised practice as laid down in relevant DES circulars. Standard self-isolation procedures must be observed in cases of Covid related leave.

Staff Training.

All staff have completed the required training prior to returning to service in the school. All return to work protocols as outlined in the Roadmap for The Safe Return to School have been observed and undertaken by all staff. All members of staff have completed and returned the self-questionnaire regarding their Covid free status prior to returning to school as required.

Communication with Parents

Parents are updated regularly via the school website and by newsletter/e mail of current school policy Vis a Vis managing the prevention and control of Covid19 in Scoil Íosa. In cases where children have been sent to school with coughs etc. the parents are routinely contacted by the school to seek clarification of the child’s condition and will advise precautionary removal from school should such be deemed appropriate.

Parents are also required to inform the school of preexisting conditions such as asthma where the child may experience coughing as a symptom of the condition. This will assist the school LWR in assessing whether contact with the parent is necessary should the symptoms prevail.

Temperature Checks

Random temperature checks may be carried out as part of our preventative measures and as an ongoing reminder to the children of the importance of observing guidelines and of the hygiene measures necessary to combat Covid19.

September 2020

Dealing with a Suspected Case of COVID-19

Staff or pupils should not attend school if displaying any symptoms of COVID-19. The following outlines how a school should deal with a suspected case that may arise in a school setting.

A designated isolation area should be identified within the school building.

The possibility of having more than one person displaying signs of COVID-19 should be considered and a contingency plan for dealing with additional cases put in place. The designated isolation area should be behind a closed door and away from other staff and pupils. If a staff member/pupil displays symptoms of COVID-19 while at school the following are the procedures to be implemented:

If the person with the suspected case is a pupil, the parents/guardians should be contacted immediately;
Isolate the person and have a procedure in place to accompany the individual to the designated isolation area via the isolation route, keeping at least 2m away COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of primary and special schools —— 28 from the symptomatic person and also making sure that others maintain a distance of at least 2m from the symptomatic person at all times; The isolation area does not have to be a room but if it is not a room it should be 2m away from others in the room;
If it is not possible to maintain a distance of 2m a staff member caring for a pupil should wear a face covering or mask. Gloves should not be used as the virus does not pass through skin;
Provide a mask for the person presenting with symptoms. He/she should wear the mask if in a common area with other people or while exiting the premises;
Assess whether the individual who is displaying symptoms can immediately be directed to go home/be brought home by parents who will call their doctor and continue self-isolation at home;
Facilitate the person presenting with symptoms remaining in isolation if they cannot immediately go home and facilitate them calling their doctor. The individual should avoid touching people, surfaces and objects. Advice should be given to the person presenting with symptoms to cover their mouth and nose with the disposable tissue provided when they cough or sneeze and put the tissue in the waste bag provided;
If the person is well enough to go home, arrange for them to be transported home by a family member, as soon as possible and advise them to inform their general practitioner by phone of their symptoms. Public transport of any kind should not be used;
If they are too unwell to go home or advice is required, contact 999 or 112 and inform them that the sick person is a Covid-19 suspect;
Carry out an assessment of the incident which will form part of determining follow-up actions and recovery;
Arrange for appropriate cleaning of the isolation area and work areas involved – (details at Section
The HSE will inform any staff/parents who have come into close contact with a diagnosed case via the contact tracing process.
The HSE will contact all relevant persons where a diagnosis of COVID-19 is made.
The instructions of the HSE should be followed and staff and pupil confidentiality is essential at all times.

Staff Duties

Staff have a statutory obligation to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of their colleagues and other parties. The cooperation and assistance of all staff is essential to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 and to protect health and safety as far as possible within the school. All staff have a key role to play. In this regard and in order to facilitate a safe return to work, these duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Adhere to the School COVID-19 Response Plan and the control measures outlined.
Complete the RTW form before they return to work.
Must inform the principal if there are any other circumstances relating to COVID19, not included in the form, which may need to be disclosed to facilitate their safe return to the workplace.
Must complete COVID-19 Induction Training and any other training required prior to their return to school.
Must be aware of, and adhere to, good hygiene and respiratory etiquette practices.
Coordinate and work with their colleagues to ensure that physical distancing is maintained. · Make themselves aware of the symptoms of COVID-19 and monitor their own wellbeing.
Self-isolate at home and contact their GP promptly for further advice if they display any symptoms of COVID-19.
Not return to or attend school if they have symptoms of COVID-19 under any circumstances.
If they develop any symptoms of COVID-19 whilst within the school facility, they should adhere to the procedure outlined above.
Keep informed of the updated advice of the public health authorities and comply with same.

Lead Worker Representative – Primary and Special Schools

The COVID-19 Return to Work Safely Protocol is designed to support employers and workers to put measures in place that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The Protocol was developed following discussion and agreement between the Government, Trade Unions and Employers at the Labour Employer Economic Forum. The Protocol provides for the appointment of a Lead Worker Representative (LWR) in each workplace. The LWR will work in collaboration with the employer to assist in the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of COVID -19 and monitor adherence to those measures and to be involved in communicating the health advice around COVID19 in the workplace. The purpose of this section is to set out the provisions in respect of the LWR in schools. The operation of these arrangements will be kept under review by the parties. This document should be read in conjunction with:

The COVID-19 Return to Work Safely Protocol; the Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during COVID-19;
COVID-19 Response Plan for Primary and Special Schools (available on the Department of Education website).

Collaborative Approach Responsibility for the development and implementation of the COVID-19 Response Plan and the associated control measures lies primarily with the Board of Management/ Education and Training Board and school management. Strong communication and a shared collaborative approach is key to protecting against the spread of COVID-19 in schools, and looking after the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and students. Adherence to the Return to Work Protocol will only be achieved if everyone has a shared responsibility in implementing the measures contained within the Protocol in their place of work. If a staff member has any concerns or observations in relation to the COVID-19 Response Plan, control measures or the adherence to such measures by staff, students or others, they should contact the LWR who will engage with school management.

Role of the Lead Worker Representative

In summary, the role of the LWR is to:

Represent all staff in the workplace regardless of role, and be aware of specific issues that may arise in respect of different staff cohorts;
Work collaboratively with school management to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare of employees in relation to COVID-19;
Keep up to date with the latest COVID-19 public health advice;
In conjunction with school management, promote good hygiene practices such as washing hands regularly and maintaining good respiratory etiquette along with maintaining social distancing in accordance with public health advice;
Assist school management with the implementation of measures to suppress COVID-19 in the workplace in line with the Return to Work Safely Protocol and current public health advice;
In conjunction with school management, monitor adherence to measures put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19;
Conduct regular reviews of safety measures;
Report any issues of concern immediately to school management and keep records of such issues and actions taken to rectify them;
Consult with the school management on the school’s COVID-19 Response Plan in the event of someone developing COVID-19 while in school including the location of an isolation area and a safe route to that area;
Following any incident assess with the school management any follow up action that is required;
Consult with colleagues on matters relating to COVID-19 in the workplace;
Make representations to school management on behalf of their colleagues on matters relating to COVID-19 in the workplace.

What can a Lead Worker Representative Do?

The LWR may consult with, and make representations to, school management on any issue of concern in relation to COVID-19. These include issues in relation to:

Cleaning protocols and their implementation
Physical Distancing
Implementation of one-way systems in the school to ensure social distancing including when entering and exiting the school
Hand Hygiene facilities including their location and whether they are stocked and maintained
Hand sanitising
Staff awareness around hand hygiene in the school
Respiratory hygiene
Personal Protective Equipment
At Risk Groups
Visitors/Contractors

Every school will appoint one Lead Worker Representative.

Checklist for School Management

Composite Checklist for Schools

This checklist supports planning and preparation, control measures and induction needed to support a safe return to school for pupils, staff, parents and others. For completion by the agreed person with overall responsibility of managing the implementation of the COVID-19 Response plan in line with the supports as agreed with Department of Education. Planning and Systems

Is there a system in place to keep up to date with the latest advice from Government and Department of Education, to ensure that advice is made available in a timely manner to staff and pupils and to adjust your plans and procedures in line with that advice?
Have you prepared a school COVID-19 response plan and made it available to staff and pupils? Department guidance and templates provided
Have you a system in place to provide staff and pupils with information and guidance on the measures that have been put in place to help prevent the spread of the virus and what is expected of them?
Have you displayed the COVID-19 posters in suitable locations highlighting the signs and symptoms of COVID-19?
Have you told staff of the purpose of the COVID-19 contact log?
Have you a COVID-19 contact log in place to support HSE tracing efforts if required? (Contact log template attached).
Have you informed staff on the measures and provided a system for them to raise issues or concerns and to have them responded to?
Have you reviewed and updated risk assessments in line with DES advice to take account of any controls to help prevent the spread of COVID-19? (Risk template attached)
Have you updated emergency plans, if necessary to take account of the COVID-19 response plan? Staff
Have you made available to each staff member a COVID-19 return-to-work form to be completed and returned 3 days before they return to the workplace? (Template attached)
Are you aware of staff members who are at very high risk under the HSE guidance on people most at risk (HSE guidance on people most at-risk) and advised them of the DES agreed arrangements for management of those staff?
Have you advised staff and pupils they must stay at home if sick or if they have any symptoms of COVID-19? COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of primary and special schools —— 42
Have you told staff and pupils what to do and what to expect if they start to develop symptoms of COVID-19 in school, including where the isolation area is?
Have you advised staff of the availability of the supports of the occupational health and wellbeing programme through Spectrum Life?
Has a lead worker representative been identified (in line with the process agreed with the DES and education partners) and detailed at Section 4.3 of this plan to help advise staff and to monitor compliance with COVID-19 control measures in the school and taken measures to ensure all staff know who the representative is? Training and Induction
Have you advised staff to view the Department of Education’s training materials which are available online?
Have you taken the necessary steps to update your school induction / familiarisation training to include any additional information relating to COVID-19 for your school?
Have first aiders, if available, been given updated training on infection prevention and control re: hand hygiene and use of PPE as appropriate? (It is intended that training will be provided as part of the Department’s online training programme). Buildings / Equipment
If you have mechanical ventilation does it need cleaning or maintenance before the school reopens? 20. Does your water system need flushing at outlets following low usage to prevent Legionnaire’s Disease?
Have you visually checked, or had someone check, all equipment in the school for signs of deterioration or damage before being used again?
Have you arranged for the school, including all equipment, desks, benches, doors and frequent touched surfaces points, to be cleaned before reopening? Control Measures in place Hand / respiratory hygiene
Have you accessed supplies of hand sanitisers and any necessary PPE equipment in line with the interim HPSC health guidance relating to the reopening of schools, from the national framework provided by the Department? (RFI published and framework available from early August).
Are there hand washing/hand sanitising stations in place to accommodate staff, pupils and visitors adhering to hand hygiene measures in accordance with Department guidance?
Have arrangements been made for staff and pupils to have regular access to handwashing/hand sanitising facilities as appropriate?
Are hand sanitisers easily available and accessible for all staff, pupils and visitors – e.g. in each classroom and at entry and exit points to school buildings? COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of primary and special schools —— 43
Have you made arrangements to ensure hand hygiene facilities are regularly checked and well-stocked?
Does the alcohol-based hand sanitiser have at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol as the active ingredient?
Have you informed staff about the importance of hand washing?
Have you arranged for staff to view how to wash their hands (with soap and water for at least 20 seconds) and dry them correctly through the use of the HSE video resource?
Have you shown staff and pupils how to use hand sanitiser correctly and where handsanitising stations are located?
Have you displayed posters on how to wash hands correctly in appropriate locations?
Have you told staff and pupils when they need to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser? This includes:

Before and after eating and preparing food
After coughing or sneezing
After using the toilet
Where hands are dirty
Before and after wearing gloves
Before and after being on public transport
Before leaving home
When arriving/leaving the school /other sites
After touching potentially contaminated surfaces
If in contact with someone displaying any COVID-19 symptoms

Has you told staff and pupils of the importance of good respiratory measures to limit the spread of the virus?

avoid touching the face, eyes, nose and mouth
cover coughs and sneezes with an elbow or a tissue
dispose of tissues in a covered bin

Physical Distancing:
Have you identified all available school space to be used to maximise physical distancing?
Have you reviewed the templates provided by the Department of Education which show options for revised layout of school rooms to meet physical distancing requirements?
Have you arranged to revise the layout of the rooms and furniture as per the Department guidelines if necessary?
Have you arranged in each room that the teacher’s desk should be at least 1m and where possible 2m away from pupil desks?
Have you arranged in each room that pupils would be at least 1m away from each other?
Have you allocated work stations consistently to the same staff and children rather than having spaces that are shared?
Have you structured pupils and their teachers into Class Bubbles (i.e. a class grouping which stays apart from other classes as much as possible) and discrete groups or “Pods” within those class bubbles to the extent that this is practical?
If you have divided a class into Pods, have you arranged at least 1m distance between individual Pods within the class bubble and between individuals in the pod, whenever possible?
Have you taken steps to limit contact and sharing of common facilities between people in different Class Bubbles (and Pods within those class bubbles) as much as possible?
Have you arranged Pod sizes to be as small as it is likely to be reasonably practical in the specific classroom context?
Have you arranged to the greatest extent possible for pupils and teaching staff to be consistently in the same Class Bubbles acknowledging that this will not be possible at all times?
Have you arranged where possible that different class bubbles to have separate breaks and meal times or separate areas at break or meal times?
Have you made arrangements to limit interaction on arrival and departure from school and in other shared areas?
Have you encouraged walking or cycling to school as much as possible?
Have you made arrangements, in so far as practicable, to open additional access points to school to reduce congestion?
Can you provide a one system for entering and exiting the school, where practical?
Have you arranged for staff meetings to be held remotely or in small groups or in large spaces to facilitate physical distancing?
Have you a system to regularly remind staff and pupils to maintain physical distancing
Have you advised staff not to shake hands and to avoid any physical contact? Visitors to Schools 54. Have you identified the activities that involve interacting with essential visitors to the school, made arrangements to minimise the number of such visitors and put in place measures to prevent physical contact, as far as possible?
Are there arrangements in place to inform essential visitors to the school of the measures to help prevent the spread of infection?
Have you a system in place for all visitors who do need to come to the school to make appointment, arrange to contact a central point and to record their visit using the contact tracing log?

Checklist for dealing with a suspected case of COVID-19

Staff members will be required to manage a suspected case in line with the protocol and training. A nominated member of the school management team will be responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the protocol to deal with suspected cases have been adhered to.

Isolation Area

Have you identified a place that can be used as an isolation area, preferably with a door that can close?
The isolation area does not have to be a separate room but if it is not a room it should be 2m away from others in the room.
Is the isolation area accessible, including to staff and pupils with disabilities?
Is the route to the isolation area accessible?
Have you a contingency plan for dealing with more than one suspected case of COVID-19?
Are the following available in the isolation area(s)? Ø Tissues Ø Hand sanitiser Ø Disinfectant/wipes Ø Gloves/Masks Ø Waste Bags Ø Bins Isolating a Person
Are procedures in place to accompany the infected person to the isolation area, along the isolation route with physical distancing from them?
Are staff familiar with this procedure?
Have others been advised to maintain a distance of at least 2m from the affected person at all times? (it is intended that this will be dealt with as part of the Department’s online training)
Is there a disposable mask to wear for the affected person while in the common area and when exiting the building? Arranging for the affected person to leave the school
Staff – have you established by asking them if the staff members feel well enough to travel home?
Pupil – have you immediately contacted their parents/guardians and arranged for them to collect their pupil? Under no circumstances can a pupil use public or school transport to travel home if they are a suspected case of COVID-19.
The affected person should be advised to avoid touching other people, surfaces and objects.
The affected person been advised to cover their mouth and nose with disposable tissue(s) when they cough or sneeze, and to put the tissue in the bin.
Has transport home or to an assessment centre been arranged if the affected person has been directed to go there by their GP?
Has the affected person been advised not to go to their GP’s surgery or any pharmacy or hospital?
Has the affected person been advised they must not use public transport?
Has the affected person been advised to continue wearing the face mask until the reach home? Follow up 19. Have you carried out an assessment of the incident to identify any follow-up actions needed?
Are you available to provide advice and assistance if contacted by the HSE? Cleaning
Have you taken the isolation area out-of-use until cleaned and disinfected?
Have you made arrangements to clean and disinfect any classroom space where the staff or pupils were located?
Have you arranged for cleaning and disinfection of the isolation area and any other areas involved, as soon as practical after the affected person has left the building?
Have the cleaners been trained in dealing with contaminated areas and supplied with the appropriate PPE? (It is intended to provide online training for cleaning staff. Appropriate PPE will be available to schools through the national procurement process which schools can access before reopening)

Checklist Lead Worker Representative

Have you agreed with your school to act as a Lead worker representative for your school? (Process for agreeing on lead worker representative/s in schools to be agreed centrally and implemented locally).
Have you been provided with information and training in relation to the role of lead worker representative? (Training for this role is currently being explored with the HSA).
Are you keeping up to date with the latest COVID-19 advice from Government?
Are you aware of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19?
Do you know how the virus is spread?
Do you know how to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
Have you watched and do you understand the online Induction Training provided by the Department of Education before returning to school?
Are you helping in keeping your fellow workers up to date with the latest COVID-19 advice from Government?
Have you completed the COVID-19 return-to-work form and given it to your school?
Are you aware of the control measures your school has put in place to minimise the risk of you and others being exposed to COVID-19? (Checklist for School Management available)
Did your school consult with you when putting control measures in place? Control measures will be agreed centrally between the Department and education partners. Consultation at school level should take place on any specific local arrangements necessary to implement the protocol
Have you a means of regular communication with the person with overall responsibility for the school COVID-19 plan?
Are you co-operating with your school to make sure these control measures are maintained?
Have you familiarised yourself with the cleaning requirements needed to help prevent cross contamination? (Checklist for Cleaning and Disinfection available)
Have you been asked to walk around and check that the control measures are in place and are being maintained?
Are you reporting immediately to the person with overall responsibility for the school COVID-19 plan any problems, areas of non-compliance or defects that you see?
Are you keeping a record of any problems, areas of non-compliance or defects and what action was taken to remedy the issue?
Are you familiar with what to do in the event of someone developing the symptoms of COVID-19 while at school? COVID-19
Are you co-operating with your school in identifying an isolation area and a safe route to that area? (Checklist for dealing with suspected case of COVID-19 available)
Are you helping in the management of someone developing symptoms of COVID-19 while at school?
Once the affected person has left the school, are you helping in assessing what follow-up action is needed?
Are you helping in maintaining the contact log?
Have you been made aware of any changes to the emergency plans or first aid procedures for your school?
Are you making yourself available to fellow staff to listen to any COVID-19 control concerns or suggestions they may have?
Are you raising those control concerns or suggestions with your school and feeding back the response to the worker who raised the issue?
Are you aware of the availability of the Spectrum Life Wellbeing Together Programme?

Checklist for Cleaning

Have you a system in place for checking and keeping up to date with the latest public health advice from Government and the Department of Education, to ensure that advice is made available in a timely manner in order to adjust your cleaning procedures in line with that advice?
Have you reviewed the HPSC interim health advice for the safe reopening of schools, in particular Section 5.6 Environmental Hygiene?
Have you explained the need for the enhanced cleaning regime to staff?
Are you aware that cleaning is best achieved using a general purpose detergent and warm water, clean cloths, mops and the mechanical action of wiping and cleaning, following by rinsing and drying?
Have you sufficient cleaning materials in place to support the enhanced cleaning regime?
Have you provided training for cleaning staff on the enhanced cleaning regime? (Department of Education intends to provide online training for cleaning staff)
Have you made arrangements for the regular and safe emptying of bins?
Are you familiar with the cleaning options for school settings set out in the interim HPSC health advice for schools for surfaces, toilets, cleaning equipment, PPE and waste management?
Are you aware that each school setting should be cleaned once per day? Have you provided cleaning materials to staff so that they can clean their own desk or immediate workspace?
Have you advised staff that they are responsible for cleaning personal items that have been brought to work and are likely to be handled at work or during breaks (for example, mobile phone and laptops) and to avoid leaving them down on communal surfaces or they will need to clean the surface after the personal item is removed?
Have you advised staff and pupils to avoid sharing items such as cups, bottles, cutlery, and pens?
Have you put in place a written cleaning schedule to be made available to cleaning staff including:

Items and areas to be cleaned
Frequency of cleaning
Cleaning materials to be used
Equipment to be used and method of operation?
Details of how to clean following a suspected case of COVID-19 are at Section 7 of the Plan above
If disinfection of contaminated surfaces is required, is a system in place to do this following cleaning?
If cleaning staff have been instructed to wear gloves when cleaning are they aware of the need to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, both before and after wearing gloves?

Have you a system in place for the disposable of cleaning cloths and used wipes in a rubbish bag? Current HSE guidance recommends waste such as cleaning waste, tissues etc. from a person suspected of having COVID-19 should be double bagged and stored in a secure area for 72 hours before being presented for general waste collection.
Have you ensured there is a system in place to make sure reusable cleaning equipment including mop heads and non-disposable cloths are clean before re-use?
Have you ensured there is a system in place to ensure that equipment such as buckets are emptied and cleaned with a fresh solution of disinfectant before re-use?