Education Minister Peter Weir has published new guidance setting out how schools should plan to reopen.

The New School Day guidance has been designed by the Department of Education, school leaders and partners.

Among the plans is a possible "no bell" strategy with flexible class times to cut pupil flow in busier schools.

On Thursday, Mr Weir announced that the 2m social distancing rule would be reduced to 1m between pupils, when schools reopen in September.
Guidance issued on Friday suggests:

· Further specific guidance for special and early years schools is being developed

Mr Weir said his ambition remained for all pupils to resume classroom-based learning "as soon as it is safely possible to do so". He told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme the direct threat to young people from coronavirus was extremely low, while their continued absence from school was damaging.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said expectations needed to be managed about the reopening of schools.

Its vice president, Graham Gault, said comments by First Minister Arlene Foster on Thursday - that the executive wanted "to get everybody back to school in September" - were unrealistic and undeliverable.

Although great progress had been made in talks between trade unions and the education department on how to manage school numbers safely, Mr Gault rejected the first minister's suggestion that schools should use extra spaces, such as assembly and dining halls, for teaching - saying these comments "stopped (him) from sleeping last night".

Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish government was looking carefully at Northern Ireland's decision to reduce physical distancing in schools, saying she had been advised 2m distancing was required to inhibit the spread of coronavirus.
The Scottish government's current plan is for all schools to reopen on 11 August, but with elements of remote learning

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-53104586