Changing school holiday dates ‘considered’

CHANGING school holiday dates in Wales is being looked at again as part of discussions on how to get pupils back into the classroom.

Speaking during yesterday’s Welsh Government briefing, Education Minister Kirsty Williams said she was keen to look at all options to return to face-to-face teaching.

Attempts to extend last year’s summer term for a week to help children catch up after months of closure had to be ditched after an outcry from local education authorities and unions.

Most of Wales’ 22 councils told schools they could not open for the extra fourth week, due to staff contracts.

But the Minister said following talks with councils and unions last week possible term date changes were back on the table to help get pupils back to the classroom.

Asked how and when schools would realistically reopen, the Minister said: “I have had very productive conversations with local education authorities last week, who, like me, are as determined to be flexible and creative as possible to maximise face-to-face tuition.

“I am very keen to have all opportunities on the table because getting children back to school is an absolute priority for me and we will continue right the way across education, with local education authorities and unions to explore every single possibility to get children back to school as soon as it is safe to do so and as soon as it is possible to do so.”