The DES have released guidelines stating

• Schools can only cater for remote learning for children who are “very high risk” 
• Children must be medically certified as being at very high risk to COVID-19
• Pupils in this category who engage with learning from home will be marked present on attendance records.
• All other pupils are expected to return to school.
• Remote learning is not applicable to pupils who are at risk of early school leaving, pupils who are experiencing COVID-related anxiety about the return to school or pupils who have been requested to self-isolate by a medical doctor or the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Other pupils/parents who are anxious about returning to school

• Some pupils or their parents may be experiencing anxiety about the return to school to such an extent that their child does not return as expected.
• All schools are expected to support such pupils in making a full return to school and to provide supports to ensure their anxiety is managed in such a way as to enable them to re-engage productively in their learning.
• It is not expected that pupils who are experiencing COVID-related anxiety would be educated through adapted education provision.

Pupils who have been requested to self-isolate for a short time

• From time to time, a number of pupils may be required to self-isolate for a short time on foot of medical advice.
• It is not expected that these pupils would be educated through adapted education provision during this time.
• Instead, schools should, at a minimum, ensure that these pupils are supported to catch up with their learning on their return to school.