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 Childcare Recovery Plans - 24 June 2020
- FAQs on Education Restart Programme - 24 June 2020
- FAQs for schools opening for children of key workers - 30 April 2020
- FAQs for parents in relation to the Covid-19 response - 21 April 2020
- FAQs for free school meals payment scheme - 31 March 2020
Income Support Scheme for substitute teachers
The Income Support Scheme for substitute teachers was launched on 19 May 2020 to help support substitute teachers who had lost the opportunity for income during the Covid-19 crisis. The scheme ensured that eligible substitute teachers, engaged between 1 January 2020 to 31 March 2020, would have access to an income for the period April to June 2020. This scheme has now ended.
Key workers support service
Key workers seeking to place their child in a school other than the normal establishment should contact the Education Authority who are providing a support service to facilitate placements.
On completion of the relevant application form, the Education Authority will appoint a caseworker to assist key workers with finding a school or pre-school in a suitable location, if their usual school/pre-school is not open.
Contact details and an on-line placement request form can be found on the EA website (external link opens in a new window).
Covid-19 Childcare Recovery plan
Coronavirus National Testing Programme for key workers
Schools open for supervised learning
An interactive map displaying schools open for supervised learning can be accessed on the Education Authority website.
Registered clusters
When a school clustering arrangement has been agreed the central liaison contact/leader in charge should register the C-19 Cluster with DE/EA by completing a short survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/C-19clusters.
A list of schools providing supervised learning as part of a registered clustering arrangement can be accessed on this school clusters document.
Please note that within Registered C-19 Clusters some schools may not be open. Please refer to the interactive map of open schools for further information
Volunteering scheme
Volunteering scheme (Covid-19) within the education sector
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
Information and guidance for educational settings
- Letter from Education Minister - Education Restart Programme - 3 June 2020
- Guidance on School Development Planning for 2020/21
- Guidance on assessment and school reports - 20 May 2020
- Guidance on vulnerable children and young people
- Letter from Minister - 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
Support for parents and pupils
A list of resources has been published that you may find useful as you assist your child with learning during the period of school closures due to Covid-19 (coronavirus).
Information is also available about organisations which are happy to provide help, advice and support to you as a parent at this time.
Notices made under the Coronavirus Act 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 (Northern 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
Latest news
- Weir announces free wi-fi scheme for disadvantaged pupils 08 July 2020
- Latest Department of Education updates in relation to COVID-19 (coronavirus) 07 July 2020
- Weir welcomes monitoring round allocations 30 June 2020
- Weir publishes new school day guidance for special schools 26 June 2020