The first children to return to school since December will re-enter classrooms across Northern Ireland later.P1 to P3 pupils will return to class but are set to go back to remote learning after two weeks.
First Minister Arlene Foster has expressed hope that those primary pupils will ultimately be able to remain in school.
On March 22, secondary school children in key exam years – years 12-14 – are to go back to class.But no date has yet been announced for the wider return of all children to school.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said ministers hope the process of exiting lockdown will be well advanced by June 10.
Around 100,000 children are also returning to pre-school this morning in the Republic of Ireland under the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE). Ireland’s phased reopening of schools got underway last week with junior infants to second class returning to primary school and sixth years returning to secondary school.
Next week is set to see third, fourth, fifth and sixth classes return to primary schools and fifth years due to return to secondary school.As well as pupils returning to classrooms for the first time in at least two months, the rules around meeting with a person from another household outdoors will be loosened to permit recreation and not just exercise.
While the “stay at home” message will remain in place, it means people can leave home to meet one other person for a coffee or picnic.