RECAP: THE PLANS FOR RETURN IN SEPTEMBER

AS reported in yesterday’s Western Mail announcing that schools will re-open full time, to all pupils, in September, Education Minister Kirsty Williams said they would attend school full time in contact groups of 30.

But it is “not zero risk” and schools must plan for a return to remote learning if there are local outbreaks. Social distancing on school transport, for example, won’t be possible

In their groups of 30 pupils won’t have to socially distance, but staff will follow whatever the national guidance is on socially distancing come September.

Every school in Wales will be provided with a supply of home testing kits in case people at the school develop symptoms.

Schools are being given the option to open either on September 1 or September 14.

The two-week window will give headteachers time to prepare or to have key exam year groups back two weeks earlier, Ms Williams said.

The Welsh Government is providing an extra £29m to schools this year to recruit 600 teachers and 300 teaching assistants to help pupils whose education has been hardest hit by the lockdown.

Ms Williams said that Wales’ scientific advice body, the Technical Advisory Group, had recommended the return to school in September.

Its advice recommended the minister “plan to open in September with 100% of pupils physically present on school sites, subject to a continuing, steady decline in the presence of Covid-19 in the community”.

Unions have broadly support full time re-opening but also have concerns about safety of staff and transmission risks among older pupils.

Councils, which employ school staff, have indicated they support the plans, which have been welcomed by the Welsh Local Government Association, which represents Wales’ 22 local authorities.