The new normal.

Most of us with children in childcare or school are eagerly awaiting clarification on when and how our children will go back in. Many countries across Europe have started reopening both creches and schools again, and sooner or later, we will have to do the same here in Ireland. However, much is yet unclear about how this will go about. Speaking at the Dáil earlier this week, Minister for Children Katherine Zappone said that one option was to follow preliminary guidance of what has been done in other countries, like Norway, which is pointing towards childcare operating in "pods". A pod in this instance means a small group of children in the same room, with the same childcare professional, with the same toys every time they are in the childcare facility.

Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has outlined plans for re-opening childcare facilities, saying children may receive care in small 'pods' that play together each day, while they would not be required to wear face coverings | Follow updates: https://t.co/BNXbPsaryS pic.twitter.com/QjH5bxasAv

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) May 20, 2020

As for just how this will work, the Minister also explained that the Government is exploring how many children can be in the care of one practitioner which will play together and stay together in the pod. Another change that might be brought in in order to keep everyone safer, is that parents might have to wait in their cars, or at a designated point, while a childcare professional collects their child and brings them into a creche, under plans being examined by the Government.