Thousands missing school for Covid-related reasons

MORE than 6,000 children missed school for a Covid-related reason in Wales on some days last week, but the figure will be higher as the data does not include those off ill with it.

Latest Welsh Government statistics also reveal that more than 10,000 school sessions were missed for unauthorised reasons between October 11 and 15 and that 48,000 school sessions were missed owing to pupil illness.

The Welsh Government has said it would not be appropriate to re-introduce penalties for parents for nonattendance during the pandemic.

School attendance is slightly up this week at 87% but that is below the 90% reported on October 14 by the Department of Education in England where term started at the same time. It is also below the pre-pandemic average of the mid to high 90% attendance rate.

A number of teachers and school leaders have repeated fears that some children will miss out long term because their education continues to be disrupted. They want more Covid infection restrictions in schools to keep pupils in classes.

One assistant head warned child protection referrals have increased this half term and that behaviour from pupils and parents has got worse.

Headteachers said it is not business as usual in schools with thousands of pupils and staff off and have asked for delays to curriculum and GCSE reforms.

They have also warned the data does not show the true effect Covid is having on schools as the virus is lumped in with all other illness data.

Education Minister Jeremy Miles has ordered a review of attendance patterns but yesterday’s report admits frankly for the first time: “Currently we do not collect data explicitly on the number of pupils who are absent because they are ill with Covid-19.

“These absences are recorded under code “I” (illness). This means that the estimates of Covid-19-related absence are lower than they would be if such absences were included in the figures,” the document says.

One secondary school leader, who did not want to be named, echoed warnings from colleagues in recent weeks saying pupils are losing out and Covid is rampant with fewer infection controls this term than before.

He said: “This week 13 teachers were off one day. This fluctuates between six to 15 a day. Our pupils, between staff and pupil absence, are not having specialist teaching with subject specific knowledge.

“It is cruel. The Welsh Government are selling their new wellbeing agenda in one breath then applying the most unbearable pressures on top of the pupils when they are not having the education they deserve.

“This is all directly because of the inept manner with which Welsh Government has managed the return to school following September.

“The reward for such ineptitude is punishing the pupils who have been affected the most.

“This feeling is mirrored by many loyal, committed colleagues.”

Another headteacher of a primary school said he was fighting fires each day with so many staff off and a shortage of supply cover, while a teacher said some families are still too scared to send pupils in which will have a long term effect on their education.

“The ripples are more profound then we can ever imagine,” one teacher warned.

“The problem is society has changed significantly.

“Social norms have shifted.

“I visit homes daily and have seen huge changes (since the pandemic started).”

Responding to headteachers’ comments that it is not business as usual and more Covid mitigations are needed, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We thank everyone working across our education system for their continued efforts in supporting learners since the start of term.

“The Decision Framework for schools clearly sets out the conditions under which additional measures should be introduced to reflect local circumstances, helping maximise learning and minimise disruption to learners across Wales.”