Parents ponder what’s best for their children as schools get set to open
As schools in Wales prepare to open their doors on Monday for the first time since lockdown, local democracy reporter Hannah Neary caught up with some of the South Wales parents facing up to the decision of whether to send their children back
THE past few months have been very busy for secondary school teacher Sarah Curley as she has been juggling her teaching responsibilities with looking after her 10-year-old twins Maggie and Thomas.
Since lockdown began in March, the mum-of-two has been working from home as a maths teacher and head of Year Nine at Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen, Bridgend.
With her children at home, she has gained two extra pupils, which has been a challenge.
“I’ve worked harder now than when I’m normally in school,” she said. “But it’s been good. I would say it’s easier teaching 30 teenagers than two 10-year-olds, even though they have been very independent and amazing throughout.”
Sarah has recently been preparing for another challenge as both a teacher and parent – the reopening of schools in Wales next week.
Schools will reopen across Wales from Monday.
Pupils will return for limited periods and there will be no more than a third of pupils in the school at one time.
All schools in some counties including Cardiff and Bridgend will be open until Friday, July 17, while schools in other parts of Wales will remain open for a week longer.
In England, some pupils returned to primary schools from June 1, which proved to be a controversial move, with varying numbers of children attending.
The decision to reopen Welsh schools has also been received with varying degrees of enthusiasm, with some parents refusing to send their children back.
Sarah said her children will be going back to Ysgol Maes yr Haul, Bridgend, next week and they are excited to see their friends and teachers.
As Year Six pupils, they will be moving on to secondary school after the summer.
“They’ve missed out on all their leavers’ assemblies so they’re kind of looking forward to seeing some of their friends.
“Even though it’s only two days, it’s better than nothing and they get to go back and say goodbye. I know my daughter was especially excited to see her teacher if she can.”
Rhian Morris, another mum from Bridgend, said she will be sending her son back to school from next week because he is also keen to see his friends.
However, she is concerned it may be “a bit more difficult” for him than for other children because he is visually impaired.
To help with social distancing, many schools have changed the layout of classrooms.
But Rhian is worried about whether her son will be able to adapt to these changes.
“It’s going to be a lot for him to contend with. I’m very nervy of how he’s going to react to it.”
He usually has a helper at school to provide one-to-one support.
At the beginning of a new school year, he would usually be able to visit his new classroom with his helper to get used to the environment.
At the moment, he will not be given one-to-one support and so Rhian is “wary” of how he will adjust.
She said her son’s school has been “very helpful” and let her visit the building with him this week so that he could familiarise himself with the new layouts.
“He really wants to go so I’m going to send him, but otherwise I probably would have kept him off.”
She is not the only parent concerned about schools reopening.
A survey by Bridgend County Council revealed that 57% of people who responded said they had “multiple or significant concerns” about children returning to school next week.
More than a third of respondents said they would not be sending their child back to school even if it is deemed safe.
Gemma Wickham will not be sending her children back to school in Bridgend next week.
She said they are too young to be able to follow social distancing at school and “don’t have any sort of spatial awareness at that age”.
The council survey found that 81% of respondents said they were concerned with social distancing within schools.
Gemma is also unsure about whether her son will be able to keep two metres apart from the other children particularly because of his visual impairment.
Zoe Johnson said although her son and his peers are old enough to understand social distancing, it would be unrealistic to expect them to stick to it at all times.
“They’re teenagers at the end of the day. I remember being a teenager and I didn’t listen.”
Her son would like to go back to school as soon as possible because he misses his friends and playing rugby.
But Zoe has decided that he will not return yet because she suffers from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and asthma and thinks “the risk is too high”.
“It’s a tough time for kids”, she said. Gemma shares similar concerns about the transmission of the virus in schools.
“We are exposing our babies to an unknown risk,” she said.
She is happy for her children to
I’ve worked harder now than when I’m normally in school, but it’s been good
Sarah Curley
It’s going to be a lot for him to contend with. I’m very nervy of how he’s going to react to it
Rhian Morris
remain at home and is “really enjoying” home-schooling.
“It’s given them an opportunity to learn different things than they would in a school environment. They’ve been doing a lot in the garden and learning about nature.”
Sarah has also enjoyed homeschooling her twins but she thinks they will benefit socially from returning to school next week.
“They need to be able to get out and socialise, even if it is socially distant or a new normal,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to going back to school myself to see pupils and check on their well-being. It may alleviate any anxieties they have before going back in September.”
Some parents said they would be more comfortable with their children returning to school in the autumn term.
The council’s survey revealed that 55% of people would prefer for their child to go back in September.
Zoe said she would “feel a bit better” about her son returning in September but would still feel “nervous” because of her health concerns.
“I’m a single mum,” she added. “I can’t afford to get ill because if I was to get the virus I would probably die.”
Gemma is “completely undecided” on when to send her children back but is “keeping an open mind”.
“I’ve got such young children and I don’t think it’s going to have any effect on their education at all. For older children, I can see the benefit.”