Education Minister Jeremy Miles has sent a letter to all school and college leaders reassuring them on his actions over Covid as some claim there is chaos as the virus runs rife.
More than 6,000 pupils have missed classes for Covid related reasons since term started this month with fewer infection control measures.
One school shut altogether and whole year groups have closed in others because of high numbers of cases among staff and pupils. There is also a shortage of supply cover staff.
You can read more about headteachers’ concerns here.
Public health experts had warned cases were expected to rise after Covid restrictions were relaxed in August and schools returned.
However, they also said they expected cases to start to fall after an initial rise, as has now happened in Scotland where schools returned three weeks earlier than in Wales.
Key points of Education Minister's letter:
- CO2 monitors will be delivered to schools, colleges and universities in Wales starting next week
- Twice weekly asymptomatic Covid tests for secondary pupils, due to end on October 11, may now be extended
- School staff will not be expected to manage any issues around vaccine consent for children
- More support will be given to TTP to ease the track and trace load on schools when Covid cases are confirmed
- Advice for pregnant teachers to be updated
- Advice for special schools to be updated
- Parents should continue sending children and teenagers to school when a member of the household has Covid. That is within the rules provided they don't have symptoms and have not tested positive themselves
Mr Miles said he understood the pressure on school and college leaders. But he said children have missed too much school and it was right that the new guidance allowed for local decisions, rather than blanket all-Wales rules.
To receive our free daily briefing on the major issues affecting the nation, Wales Matters, click here
