School return timetable is revealed
CARMARTHENSHIRE Council has revealed when it hopes children across the county will be able to return to school after the Christmas break.
With schools across Wales closed until after the new year, the Welsh Government has agreed with local authorities that they can have a phased return to school after the Christmas holidays – with up to two weeks until January 18 when teaching can be done online.
In Carmarthenshire, the council has admitted that it is “very difficult” to second guess what the situation will be like by the beginning of January, but it has outlined its arrangements for the start of the next term.
The plans are not, for now, affected by the new more infectious variant of coronavirus circulating in Wales, although First Minister Mark Drakeford admitted he couldn’t rule anything out.
He added: “The fact we have agreed flexibility for those two weeks, I think already means we’ve got some basis for how schools can be re-introduced and our young people can resume their education in the postChristmas period.”
A spokeswoman for Carmarthenshire Council said: “Unfortunately, the current situation with the increasing transmission of Covid-19 across Wales makes it very difficult to predict the impact it will have on staffing levels in our schools following the Christmas break.
“Our priority is to minimise disruption to our children and young people’s education as much as possible, however, schools will need to assess their staffing levels at the beginning of the new term, and as a result some flexibility will be required in relation to pupils’ return.”
An outline of the arrangements for the return of pupils to schools in Carmarthenshire is seen below:
■ Monday, January 4, will be an inset day (schools will be closed so there will be no childcare provision or remote learning)
■ January 5 and 6 will be ‘preparation days’. This will be required to assess levels of staff availability, provide additional training, to review all risk assessments and to consider any further requirements in relation to Test Trace Protect and testing (school will be closed, so there will be no childcare provision or remote learning).
■ January 7 and 8 – Schools will inform you if pupils are able to return to school safely. It may be that only a few classes can return, and some pupils will receive their education remotely. On-site support will be available for children of critical workers and vulnerable learners; however, as before this service must only be used where all other options have been exhausted. This is to protect the wellbeing of pupils and staff in the schools. Please contact your school for further information.
■ Week beginning Monday, January 11 – except for exceptional circumstances pupils will return to school. This arrangement will depend on local circumstances and your school will send you information closer to the date.
■ Week beginning Monday, January 18 – all pupils will return to school for face-to-face learning (unless exceptional local circumstances prevent this).
■ Nursery pupils – schools will inform parents of start dates.
■ Breakfast clubs and school meals will resume on January 7.
A spokeswoman for Carmarthenshire Council added: “It is vital we do all we can to try to reduce the spread of the virus, and we must continue to follow the guidance to protect both ourselves and others.
“Please remember if your child, or any member of your household has Covid-19 symptoms please request a test by phoning 119 or using the online portal.
“During the Christmas holidays, if your child has a positive test result please contact Delta Wellbeing on 0300 333 2222 or email Ttp@deltawellbeing.org. uk providing your child’s name, year group and school.”