Councils to delay return of children to school

FOUNDATION Phase age children in three council areas will not be returning to school on February 22.

Bridgend and Caerphilly councils have said they are planning to bring three to seven year-olds back from February 26.

Bridgend council said its schools “are looking forward to welcoming all three to seven-yearold pupils back in school by Friday, February 26”.

Caerphilly council said it is working with its schools to “support how pupils in Foundation Phase can all return by February 26”.

A spokesman said: “We are working with schools, in line with the review of their individual risk assessments, to support how pupils in Foundation Phase can all return by February 26.

“Inevitably this will mean a varied approach across the county borough, according to different sites/ staffing availability.”

Some councils are understood to be using the first few days of halfterm as planning days for staff before planning to bring pupils back from February 24.

Last week the Welsh Government said the youngest pupils aged three to seven could start to return from February 22 as coronavirus rates continue to fall.

At the moment only key workers’ and vulnerable children can attend school and even then only some of the time. Other pupils are learning remotely.

The Welsh Local Government Association said earlier this week that local circumstances will be taken into account.

The Welsh Government has said it is having “productive meetings” with unions, local authorities and heads about the phased return of the youngest pupils from February 22.

It has published updated re-opening guidance which includes testing for school staff twice a week as well as advice that all staff should wear threelayer masks at all times they are with children who cannot socially distance.