Health & Safety Guidelines

Guiding Principles

• The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and community is our highest priority. This includes physical, emotional, and general wellbeing.
• We will prioritize learning to ensure the highest quality of education for all students, regardless of delivery modality (in person or online).
• We will maintain full compliance with the directives of the Department of Education and Public Health Authorities of Ireland.
• We will communicate in a regular and timely manner with all of our stakeholders regarding policies and changes.

Travel & Covid-19 Protocols

If you are travelling to Ireland from overseas you must fill out a Passengers Locator form before departure,

fill out a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) before departure.

Vaccination Certificates

Since 1 February 2022:

• Vaccine certificates for primary vaccination series are not accepted for travel if more than 270 days have passed since the final dose in the primary vaccine series. Persons travelling with only a vaccination certificate showing their primary series must ensure that it is still in the acceptable date range
• Vaccine certificates based on booster/additional doses are not time limited and persons travelling with this additional document are not subject to the 270 day acceptance period

A standard acceptance period of 14 days after the final dose in a primary vaccine series of a vaccine are required for all vaccines accepted for travel to Ireland. Please ensure that your vaccination certificates meet the requirements listed below for accepted proof of vaccination.

Travellers with negative PCR test results

• Passengers without proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the prior 6 months, must show evidence of a negative (‘not detected’) PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to arriving in Ireland.
• Only PCR test results are accepted for passengers to Ireland.
• In situations where a person is unable to present evidence of a negative (‘not detected’) PCR test prior to travel due to continuing to test persistently positive after infection, a positive PCR result from a test taken 11 or more days prior to the date on which the person arrives in the State and no more than 180 days prior to the date on which the person arrives, will be accepted.
• It is an offence to travel to Ireland from overseas without a pre-departure test result unless exempt. A passenger who travels without a test result or an exemption is required to take a PCR test within 36 hours following arrival.
• Any individual that develops COVID-19 symptoms while in Ireland should follow the HSE guidance in relation to isolation and undertaking antigen or PCR testing as appropriate.

For approved vaccines, please visit

Proof of Recovery Certificates

A non-Digital COVID Certificate ‘proof of recovery’ means a record or evidence in written or electronic form in English or Irish or an official translation into Irish or English which contains the following:

• name
• date of birth
• disease from which holder has recovered
• date of holder’s first positive NAAT test result
• Member State or third country in which test was carried out
• certificate issuer
• dates the certificate is valid from and valid until (not more than 180 days after the date of first positive NAAT test result)

Self-isolation means avoiding contact with other people and social situations as much as possible:

• Not going to work or school.
• Not using public transport.
• Not having visitors at the student’s accommodation.
• Not visiting others, going for house viewings or parties.
• Not going to the shops or pharmacy unless it’s absolutely necessary – where possible, groceries should be ordered online, or a delivery service should be arranged.
• Not meeting face-to-face with older people, anyone with a long-term medical condition or pregnant women.
• Students can go outside to exercise by themselves as long as they keep 2 meters from other people.

Please visit www.gov.ie for further details.

CLS Health and Safety Protocols

Our health and safety protocols are based on…

• Ventilation & clear airflow throughout the premises
• Physical distancing
• Hand-hygiene
• Face masks
• Protocols of movement within the school and use of shared spaces
• Additional cleaning and disinfection of all classrooms and offices
• Education, reminders, and guidance of the importance of these controls
• Staggered start times during the week as well as staggered recess times

Mask-wearing

We believe that the continued wearing of face masks is essential to maintaining a Covid-19-free school. There is still a significant incidence of C-19 in the community and despite the lifting of restrictions announced by the government, City Language School will continue to require all students and staff members to wear masks at all times in the building.

Eating & Drinking

We understand that the restriction on eating and drinking in the school is difficult, but we ask for your patience. It is too early for us to consider changing this rule.  Each student has a life outside school where they can choose to socialise as freely as they want. In class, you may be sitting beside a student who has to restrict their social contacts for health reasons. We ask that you respect that in an educational environment people do not have the same level of choice as they have in their personal and social lives. Out of consideration for other people, please wear a well-fitting mask and do not eat or drink in the classroom.

Onset of Symptoms or Diagnosis of Covid-19

Any student or staff member with symptoms or a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 must not come to school. The symptomatic person should visit https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/

The emergency phone number to speak with our Covid Officer is 086 895 2443.

In the case of any student or teacher developing symptoms during class time, the school Covid Officer will be contacted and immediately take the person into the designated Covid-19 Isolation room in the school- Balally on the first floor. All precautions will be taken. From here, the symptomatic person will contact their emergency contact to bring them home. Public transport must not be used.

The space that the symptomatic person occupied will be immediately deep cleaned. If the symptomatic person tests positive classmates and/or co-workers will immediately go home and access lessons / work remotely until further notice.

Symptoms & Testing

If a student or staff member has any common symptoms of COVID-19, please visit

Symptoms of severe COVID‐19 disease include:

• shortness of breath or breathing difficulties

• confusion

• pain or pressure in the chest

• fever (high temperature – 38 degrees Celsius or above)

If you are very short of breath and cannot complete a sentence, ring the Emergency Services immediately at 112 or 999

It can take up to 7 days for symptoms to show. They can be similar to the symptoms of a cold or flu. Getting an early diagnosis from your GP means you can get the help you need and take steps to avoid spreading the virus if you have it.

• Even if your PCR or antigen test is negative, your doctor may advise you to self-isolate, depending on your symptoms. If advised to self-isolate, you may not return to face-to-face class until further notice.
• If you test positive, you must self-isolate for 10 days, or you can shorten this period with two negative Antigen test on Day 6 and Day 7.

Symptoms & Attendance

Students who experience even mild symptoms must stay at home and will be advised to monitor their condition and take a number of Antigen tests before returning to class. An Antigen test must be taken on Day one, Day three, and Day five. Two further Antigen tests must show a negative result from Day six and Day seven before returning to school. Attendance will be recorded as an authorised absence ‘Covid-19 isolation’ for any isolation period if regular Antigen tests are sent to finola.dunne@citylanguageschool.com

Hybrid Lessons

Students who are self-isolating can access their lessons remotely if at B1, B2, and C1 levels. We aim to add options at other levels as soon as possible.

Close Contacts & Self-isolation

If a staff member or a student test positive for Covid-19 or they have been identified as a close contact, they must self-isolate for 5 days. An Antigen test must be taken on Day one, Day three, and Day five. Two further Antigen tests must show a negative result from Day six and Day seven before returning to school.

Close Contacts & Class Bubbles

If a student or teacher tests positive for Covid-19, all members of the class will be considered ‘Close Contacts’ and will start remote lessons immediately for a period of 7 days.

Vaccinations

In line with global public health advice, we recommend vaccination as the best protection against becoming seriously ill or needing hospitalisation from Covid-19. Vaccinations are free and there are a number of Walk-in Centres around the city. Information on how to access your vaccination can be found at  HSE.ie

Please note that vaccinated people can still contract and transmit Covid-19 and must take the same precautions as unvaccinated people.

Failure to do so is an offence. The COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form is an online form. You can complete this form by clicking on link below above than 72 hours prior to arriving in Ireland

The information you provide may be used to provide you with public health advice and for the purposes of contact tracing in relation to confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19.

All current and new students are advised to click https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/77952-government-advice-on-international-travel/ 

The CLS Team is here to help you feel connected and if you need any information or just need to talk, please contact us directly.  

College Manager: Finola finola.dunne@citylanguageschool.com 

Director of Studies: Aoife aoife.harrington@citylanguageschool.com 

Assistant Director of Studies: Róisín roisin.foley@citylanguageschool.com

General queries: info@citylanguageschool.com