Up to 4,000 children with additional educational needs will return to in-person education today as special schools throughout the country reopen their doors.
Under a plan agreed between the Department of Education and teacher and SNA trade unions, 124 special schools will reopen, initially, with 50% of students attending in turn on different days.
They will be joined in their classrooms by up to 4,000 teachers and Special Needs Assistants. The schools cater for more than 8,000 students in total.
Earlier plans to reopen special schools in January collapsed after the Department of Education failed to secure the agreement of trade unions representing SNAs and teachers.