AQW 7889/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 30/09/2020
Answered On Date: 19/10/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education why clear face masks have not been provided to schools and for school transport staff where there are children who are deaf and need to see a teacher and classroom assistant’s face for communication or for children with learning disabilities.

Answer:

Clear face masks have not been provided to schools on the basis of public health guidance that face coverings are not recommended for children in Primary schools, whilst in post-primary schools face coverings are strongly recommended to be worn where adults and young people are moving about the school in corridors and confined communal areas (including toilets) where physical distancing is particularly difficult to maintain as set in the Department’s Education Restart guidance ( issued 29 September)

The EA advises that in relation to Classroom Assistants, face coverings are not required when working with a deaf child if they can adhere to social distancing. If the child uses a radio aid, this should be used to overcome the effect of distance. Alternatively, one meter distance and side to side working is acceptable.

If face coverings are worn, educational services are required to make reasonable adjustments to ensure deaf children are not disadvantaged.