The Government has announced a summer education plan for the most vulnerable children in society.

The Summer Provision programme is normally available to children with special needs; however this year it will open to children with behavioural problems and those with intellectual disabilities.

It offers three options to parents, students and schools.

• Teachers and Special Needs Assistants will offer in-school or home-based supports to help prevent regression among vulnerable children.
• A new programme will offer all 890 DEIS schools in the country an opportunity to offer summer camps, including numeracy and literacy programmes, to pupils.
• Thirdly a HSE-led programme will aim to provide summer camp places to up to 1,200 children with complex needs.

Minister McHugh said transport will offered where appropriate and the officials are finalising plans to offer the Schools Meals Programme to all schools taking part.

“As a Government we are determined to support families who have felt the deepest impact from the closure of schools,” he said.

“Summer Provision 2020 is a significant expansion of support for the children and families who are most in need.

“The aim is to help address the concerns that families are feeling over the loss of in-school time and learning for children with special needs and those at greatest risk of disadvantage.”

Minister Harris said families with vulnerable children have found the outbreak “even tougher” than most.

He said the health-led part of the programme will be tailored to the needs of children and will have three main goals:

• To provide short respite breaks for families
• To facilitate children with complex needs to being the transition from their homes to re-engaging with their communities and schools
• To provide safe opportunities for the children to engage with their peers

“I hope that children and parents can now look forward to a Summer 2020 that is a bit better for them and brings some relief after what has been a very challenging and difficult time,” he said.

It comes as the Department of Education warned that the two-metre rule will severely curtail the amount of time students can spend in school next year.

If the rule remains in place, most primary school students will only be able to attend one day a week while most secondary students will only attend two.