CLASS (Covid Learning & Support Scheme) Teaching Hours

Under the Covid Learning and Support Scheme (CLASS) additional teaching hours are being provided to school for the 2021/22 school year. The purpose of the CLASS programme is to provide additional teaching support to students who are at risk of learning loss and/or at risk of early school leaving arising from the impact of COVID-19.  The additional hours were allocated to schools on Monday, 11th October via the On-Line Claims System (OLCS) as part-time hours.

Key points:

• Circular letter 45/2021 gives details of the number of additional hours being provided to schools and the criteria applicable for the utilisation of these hours.

• Schools will have received a new staffing schedule with the allocation appearing under the heading Covid Learning Support Scheme.

•  The new staffing schedule does not affect the allocation of Assistant Principal posts for the 2021/22 school year as the allocation of posts in CL 23/2021 is based on the WTE for the previous school year (i.e. the teacher allocation for the 2020/21 school year).

•  The CLASS teaching hours are a once off temporary allocation for the 2021/22 school year only.

•  The hours must be provided during the normal school day and can be used at any time over the course of the 2021/22 school year.

•  Teachers undertaking these hours should be registered teachers. Circular Letter 45/2021 provides for these hours to be offered to teachers currently on part-time contracts who may provide additional teaching hours up to a full teaching week of 22 hours or a school may employ a substitute teacher in the same manner in which it engages substitute teachers.

•  A template contract for a registered teacher undertaking CLASS teaching hours is attached.