Department of Education releases on COVID-19 (coronavirus)

This page provides the latest information released by the Department of Education in relation to Covid-19 (coronavirus) and its impact on education services.

For general health advice relating to Covid-19, please visit the Public Health Agency website.

Frequently asked questions

• FAQs on substitute teachers - 18 September 2020
• FAQs on Childcare Recovery Support Fund - 27 July 2020
• FAQs on Childcare Recovery Plans - 24 June 2020
• FAQs on Education Restart Programme - 24 June 2020
• FAQs for free school meals payment scheme - 31 March 2020

Further guidance for schools on supporting remote learning

Circular 2021/01: Further guidance for schools on supporting remote learning to provide educational continuity

Free school meals - direct payment scheme

On 26 March the Minister for Communities and the Minister for Education announced plans to make sure families do not experience hardship as a result of schools closing. The direct payments scheme will ensure families eligible for free school meals will receive direct payments into bank accounts during the period of term time school closures due to Coronavirus.
Information on direct payments scheme for families eligible for free school meals
FAQs for free school meals payment scheme - 31 March 2020
Ministers take action in relation to Free School Meals payment - 26 March 2020

Ministerial statements

Oral statement to the Ad Hoc Committee by Education Minister, Peter Weir on the Covid-19 response - 25 June 2020

Information and guidance for educational settings

• National Testing Initiative – COVID-19 Testing Kits for Schools - 14 September 2020
• Northern Ireland Re-opening School Guidance - New School Day - 19 June 2020
• Guidance to support safe working in educational settings - 4 June 2020
• Letter from Education Minister - Education Restart Programme - 3 June 2020
• Guidance on vulnerable children and young people - 10 April 2020
• Letter from Minister of Education - Safer Schools app - 10 April 2020
• Joint Ministerial announcement on emergency childcare provision - 9 April 2020
• Letter from Minister of Education - Vulnerable Children and Young People - 8 April 2020
• Implementing social distancing in educational settings - 3 April 2020
• Guidance to schools on cluster arrangements - 31 March 2020
• Letter from Minister of Education to schools on cluster arrangements - 31 March 2020
• Letter from Education Minister to education sector - 24 March 2020
• Education Minister’s update on school closures – 23 March 2020
• Statement from Education Minister on Covid-19 response – 20 March 2020
• Letter from Permanent Secretary Derek Baker to principals – 20 March 2020
• Letter from Education Minister to education sector – 19 March 2020
• Education Minister releases guidance for educational settings – 16 March 2020
• Latest guidance on Covid-19 (coronavirus) - 25 February 2020

Notices made under the Coronavirus Act 2020

• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (Notice. 40) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2022
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (Notice. 39) Notice (Norther Ireland) 2022
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (Notice. 38) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2022
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (Notice. 37) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (Notice. 36) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (Notice. 35) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (Notice. 34) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (Notice. 33) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 32) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 31) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 30) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 29) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 28) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 26) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 25) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 24) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 23) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 22) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No, 21) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No, 20) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No, 19) Cancellation Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 18) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Disapplication of Education Duties (No.17) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 16) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 15) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 14) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Cancellation of Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties Notice (No. 13) (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 13) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 12) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Cancellation of Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties Notice (No.10) (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.11) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.10) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.9) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.8) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.7) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.6) Free School Meals Direct Payments (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.5) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No 4) - Notice (Nothern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.3) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice - Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.2) Cancellation Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020
• Notice temporarily disapplying or modifying education duties No.2 (Northern Ireland) 2020 – 3 April 2020
• Notice temporarily disapplying or modifying education duties No.1 (Northern Ireland) 2020 - 1 April 2020