Children with special needs are returning to school from today, as special schools have been allowed to reopen, for the first time since before Christmas.

The special schools are only permitted 50% capacity, with children attending on alternate days.

Special classes in mainstream primary schools and secondary schools look set to resume on February 22nd, after teachers and SNAs announced they would back the move.

For one school in Mayo, it's been a fairly quiet reopening today.

St Brid's special school in Castlebar caters for 25 pupils with special needs, but only three attended school this morning.

Principal Thomas Jones says a number of parents have opted not the send their children back to school until after the mid-term break, which is scheduled for next week.

However, he told Midwest News that he's delighted to see the school open again....