To ask the Minister of Education what guidance has been provided Special Educational Needs Schools in relation to the wearing of Personal Protection Equipment of teaching and support staff.

The Department issued CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Guidance for Schools and Educational Settings in NI on 28 September.

This guidance sets out the circumstances in which PPE is required in section 2 paragraphs 20-22. Which state:

The PHA has published guidance to support safe working in educational settings in Northern Ireland. This advises that routine use of PPE within education settings is not required other than for certain tasks deemed to be of higher risk of transmission.

PPE is only needed in a very small number of cases. These are;

working with children, young people and pupils whose care routinely already involves the use of PPE, due to their intimate care needs; and

giving children medication.

PPE in the following situations means:

fluid-resistant surgical face masks;

disposable gloves;

disposable plastic aprons; and

eye protection (for example a face visor or goggles).

Where PPE is recommended, this means that;

a facemask should be worn if a distance of 2m cannot be maintained from someone with symptoms of COVID-19 (symptomatic children should not be in

if contact is necessary, gloves, an apron and a facemask should be worn; and

if a risk assessment determines that there is a risk of fluids entering the eye (e.g. from coughing, spitting or vomiting), eye protection should also be worn.