Youth Restart & Recent Executive Announcements-26 November 2020

Youth Restart & Recent Executive Announcements

An update from Paul Deighan | Head of Regional Youth Services (Interim)

With reference to recent announcements regarding restrictions by the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to Covid-19, I write to confirm that as part of these announcements Educational Settings are exempt. Guidance issued within the Youth Restart and New School Day documents remains the current practice and procedures when working with children and young people in educational settings (i.e. youth settings). Guidance relating to Education Visits (activities or trips away from your normal delivery location) remains the same which are currently on pause at this time.

Outlined below is the current stage relevant to the Youth Work Setting for your reference.

If a change in restrictions is introduced which directly impacts the delivery of Youth Services, I will write to you again outlining any potential change.

Yours Sincerely,

Paul Deighan | Head of Regional Youth Services (Interim)

Youth Service |Children and Young People’s Service

 

Youth Work Setting Commencement Present Status
Generic Youth

Provision

 1st October 2020 Operational
Centre Based Youth Provision (Part Time & Full Time) 1st October 2020 Operational
Area Based Project

Provision

 1st October 2020 Operational
Specialist Provision

(Including Individual Work)

 March 2020 Online Only Online
Online & Remote Access Provision March 2020 Operational
International Youth Work March 2020 Online Only Online
Outreach Work Stood Down Not Operational
Detached Provision April 2020 – Only as part of an agreed response plan to support vulnerable Children and young people led by EA Only as part of an agreed response plan to support vulnerable children and young people led by EA
Residential Work Stood Down Not Operational
Staff Development & Training April 2020 Online Only Online
Training for Young People April 2020 Online Only Online

 

 

 

Today, the Executive has announced that schools and other education settings will have the half-term holiday break extended from 19 to 30 October.

To schools and education settings
I know that this year has been a very stressful time for education settings, schools, pupils and parents.
Today, the Executive has announced that schools and other education settings will have the half-term holiday break extended from 19 to 30 October.
Education settings will be closed to all pupils during these two weeks including for vulnerable children and children of key workers. Schools and other settings will reopen on Monday, 2 November.
The Department of Education is asking schools to use two of their existing Optional Days with the remainder of the additional time off through the use of automatically allocated Exceptional Closure Days.
I am aware that some schools have planned shorter half terms so may require more than three exceptional closures. The attached circular provides further information.
Schools are closed to all pupils. Principals should only bring staff into school during optional and exceptional closure days where they are unable to work from home. As this is an extension of the half-term break, it is not intended to be used for remote learning.
All school staff will be paid as normal including support staff and any substitute teacher who was booked to work during this extended half-term.
During the week beginning 19 October direct payments will be made to pupils in receipt of Free School Meals.
Generic youth services will close during this period with targeted provision of youth services continuing for those young people deemed ‘at risk’ as directed by the Education Authority.
This decision is a small part of a much wider package of societal response, and I want to emphasise that schools remain a safe environment for children and staff.
I want to thank principals, teachers and staff for their dedication and commitment to keeping their settings a safe and welcoming place for children and young people to learn and develop.
PETER WEIR MLA
MINISTER OF EDUCATION

More information is here