Covid-19: Primary pupils and years 12-14 return to school

All primary school pupils and those in years 12 to 14 of post-primary returned to school on Monday.

Primary pupils in P4 to P7 join those in P1 to P3 who returned to school on 8 March.

Pupils returning on Monday have not been in school since before Christmas, their second prolonged absence from the classroom in a year.

They will attend school for at least a week before many schools begin Easter holidays.

It is planned that the remaining pupils in years 8 to 11 in post-primaries will return on the 12 April after the Easter break, though that is subject to a review by the Executive.

Education Minister Peter Weir told BBC's Good Morning Ulster he is feeling "optimistic" about children returning to the classroom.

"It's very important that the executive, as a whole, has decided to prioritise education," he said.

"The impact on mental health and wellbeing has been devastating for young people and I think today will be an opportunity for them to get back into a routine which has a level of normality," he added.

The minister said pupils are to be given lateral flow tests in school this week but after Easter testing would "generally speaking be done at home".

Mr Weir said he is expecting parents to be given tests for home use by the end of this week.

Keith Wisener, principal of Whiteabbey Primary School, told the same programme he was "delighted" to be welcoming pupils back to class.

"We are ready, we have made the effort because we know it's good for our children", he said, adding, "when we hopefully get back [after Easter] on 12 April we'll be fired up and ready to go."

Jane Thompson from charity Parentkind said it is a "very good morning" for pupils and parents, many of whom are concerned for their children's mental health and wellbeing.

Ms Thompson said there needs to be "more focus on the wellbeing recovery and not so much focus on the academic" in the run up to Easter.

Sharon Arbuckle's daughter, Gracie, is just one of the many school pupils returning to the classroom.

"Our daughter tried on her school uniform on Sunday morning and wore it for about an hour or two, she was that excited about getting back to school," Mrs Arbuckle said.

"Thankfully it still fits, the shoes are a bit tight but other than that it's so far so good."

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle, Gracie - who attends St Columba's Primary School in New Buildings - said she is really excited to see all of her friends again and is looking forward to getting back into a routine.

"It's been so long, it's hard to properly picture it, but I am just happy about the whole thing," she explained.

Mrs Arbuckle said that she has no concerns about her daughter returning to the classroom.

"Last year, I couldn't wait to get the schools to close because I was so nervous about it - the number of cases in Derry was so high- but now that has changed, the case numbers have dropped and so many people are getting their vaccine.

There will be mass Covid testing in post-primary schools - with year 12 to 14 pupils and staff asked to test themselves at home twice a week.

After objections from teaching unions, staff will not have to carry out tests on pupils when they return.

Instead, schools are being asked to "familiarise" pupils with the Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests to enable them to take the tests at home.

Testing will be rolled out to staff in primary and pre-schools after Easter.

The Department of Education (DE) also said that post-primary pupils must wear face masks in classrooms when they return.

Schools are expected to calculate grades to enable pupils in years 12 to 14 to gain GCSE, AS and A-level and BTEC qualifications this summer.

Some pupils may sit in-class tests provided by the Northern Ireland exams board CCEA to help schools gain evidence for grades.

However, work pupils have completed at home can be used as evidence by schools when deciding grades.

The department has advised schools that breakfast clubs, after school activities and sports fixtures between schools should not take place until after Easter, at least.

Some experts have expressed concerns about the impact of children being out of school and children's sport being banned.

The President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Prof Russell Viner, previously told MPs that "when we close schools we close their lives".

Some principals and teaching unions have been critical of the short notice they have received about major changes to previous plans for the return of pupils.