The Department of Education has published guidelines as to how primary schools should support children who cannot attend school because they have a health condition which places them at high risk in relation to Covid-19.
Schools have been advised that such children should be marked present on attendance records and that schools will be responsible overall for ensuring that they receive "appropriate support".
The guidelines state that all other children - including those with anxiety around Covid-19 - are expected to return to school.
Parents or guardians will have to seek medical certification to indicate that their child is at very high risk and to inform the school of this.