Schools preparing to return to remote lessons once again

SCHOOLS are making contingency plans to return to remote learning for all pupils in case they are ordered to shut for a “circuit-breaker” lockdown in Wales.

The Association of School and College Leaders Cymru (ASCL) said headteachers are aware a “circuit-breaker” to help slow the spread of Covid-19 is possible around half-term, which starts on October 26.

Some have asked staff to prepare for home learning and online lessons if all pupils have to learn remotely again, said ASCL Cymru national officer Jim Retallick.

The Welsh Government is “very actively talking about and preparing for” a circuit-breaker lockdown in Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

It is understood that a decision will be made this weekend and announced on Monday if it goes ahead, with any restrictions being introduced from Friday.

However, it is not clear if it will involve schools.

Schools in Wales pointed out that a mix of on-site and remote “blended” learning has been taking place since term began last month.

Mr Retallick said: “Schools haven’t been asked to draw up plans for an extended circuitbreaker half-term at this stage. However, some headteachers are considering the possibility at school level so that staff are prepared and they have some planning in place if this happens.

“Schools are preparing for all eventualities at the moment. If, and when, something happens, schools need to be able to respond. We have not been given advice to close.

“It is contingency planning rather than expectation, but about making people aware of the possibility. I think most schools are prepared and flexible.”

Headteachers confirmed they have not had any official request from the Welsh Government or Public Health Wales to prepare for a return to home learning, but some said plans were in place anyway.

Marc Belli, executive headteacher at Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales High in Cardiff and Caldicot High said he had not heard any requests for circuitbreaker plans and hoped it would not come to that. But blended learning at home and school was all planned anyway.

He said: “Our distance learning plan which we established in July was always designed to cope with blended demand. Staff would produce materials via our online platform and students would complete in line with timetable.”

But one teacher in a rural secondary said online provision is still patchy and some schools still don’t have any live or recorded lessons more than six months after they were ordered to shut.

“We are still preparing worksheets for pupils online,” she said.

Some local education authorities have been speaking to schools about plans.

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesperson said: “These are testing times for everyone; the difficulties the virus poses for schools are particularly complex. We are working closely with all our schools to help them overcome these challenges, offering a range of support to prepare for all eventualities at these uncertain times.”

Powys council said it has not asked schools to plan for a circuitbreak shutdown.

A spokesman said that although most schools only opened for the last three weeks of the summer term, those in Powys opened for four and will have two weeks’ halfterm anyway.

A Cardiff council spokesperson said: “Schools are working under challenging and changing times and they continue to adapt their approach to learning in response to different scenarios and evolving circumstances caused by Covid-19.

“Ensuring continuity of learning for all of children and young people is essential. Cardiff council has provided over 10,000 digital devices and internet provision to pupils and teachers to enable learning to take place away from the classroom and we continue to support schools to provide a flexible, hybrid approach to learning which meets the needs of their own pupils and school communities.”

More than 1,000 pupils have had to self-isolate and return to home learning since schools reopened full-time last month, with hundreds of Covid-19 cases confirmed in Wales’ 1,569 schools. There have been cases in schools across all 22 local education authorities.

Hundreds more pupils and a number of staff at schools across Wales have been told to self-isolate over the past two weeks. Some year groups have been sent home for two weeks for a second time since term started.

Schools do not have to close if a case of coronavirus is confirmed but have to follow protocols set out in Welsh Government reopening guidance.

All schools in Wales reopened full-time to all pupils in September after remote learning during lockdown. Schools were ordered to shut in March and reopened to some pupils for the last two weeks of the summer term. Some had stayed open as hubs for key workers’ children throughout lockdown.

The British Medical Association has said it supported a temporary short-term lockdown but only as part of a new “robust prevention plan” and clearer public health messaging.