Teachers, schools and education experts have drawn up a list of suggestions which schools can choose from to make up for lost time caused by the coronavirus closures.

The government said earlier it would spend €6bn on helping primary and secondary schools to catch up, and the list of options is meant to help schools decide what specific action to take.

The ideas include increasing the school day, giving extra lessons to certain pupils and one on one sessions. Summer schools are another of the options included in the menu.

The €8.5bn budget – which includes money for universities and colleges – will be spread over 2.5 years. Schools, which will have roughly €700 per pupil to spend, will be free to decide how to spend the money allocated to them.

The programme includes provision for pupils’ mental and physical wellbeing as well as the school curriculum.