3,500 children still care will be offered
MORE than 800 schools remain open across Wales for children of key workers, Education Minister Kirsty Williams said yesterday.
She confirmed around 1% of the school population – around 3,500 children – were continuing to go to school during the crisis.
The Minister added that some schools would stay open for vulnerable children and the children of key workers over the two-week Easter holiday period, which starts on Friday, and for bank holidays.
But she said in the Welsh Government press conference that there were no plans to give personal equipment to teachers caring for the children in schools.
Free school meals will also continue over the Easter break for disadvantaged children, she confirmed.
Local education authorities (LEAs) are planning how best to offer free school meals, as a national scheme has not yet been introduced.
Ms Williams said Wales is the only part of UK which will continue to offer free school meals throughout the Easter break.
She told the press conference yesterday that the Welsh Government was developing a national plan for home learning, as schools remain shut to most pupils.
This will be released shortly, she said, adding: “We will release a continuity of learning policy and guidance, which will, in part, address what schools can continue to do with curriculum implementation in these difficult times.” Ms Williams announced that the sixweek summer holiday will go ahead as usual, but until then parents should not be “too harsh” on themselves.
Asked for advice on home schooling, she said: “It’s really important to give yourself a break as a parent and not be too harsh on yourself. Be kind to yourself and your children. These aren’t normal times.”
She said she is proud there will be care in schools over Easter, weekends and bank holidays, but urged parents to “only use our schools as a last resort”. And she offered a “huge thank-you” to everyone working in education in Wales.
She thanked Wales’ children, adding, “It’s really hard, the weather has turned nice and you want to be out with your friends”, but it is important to stay home.
She said vulnerable children and those without devices are getting help accessing work. “There is lots of great practice out there where schools have lent equipment to families,” she said, adding that all children in Wales have an “HWB” log-in to access work.