Schools will be given more guidance about the start of term next week, the Welsh government said today after tough new Covid restriction s were announced.
The spring term is starting late for all pupils in Wales with staff given two planning days to help organise remote learning, if needed, in response to the new Omicron variant.
There is still uncertainty about what schools will look like with Powys council confirming pupils there will start remotely and others warning they may, depending on the situation locally.
Read more: Mark Drakeford announces tough new Alert Level 2 Covid restrictions for Wales
One teaching union has warned its members that the two days Covid planning should also be done remotely.
In a letter to its members Nasuwt Cymru said: "Schools have been advised to set mitigations against the pandemic at ‘Very High Risk’. If remote learning planning can be done from home then it should be."
Schools were hit by high staff absence rates and lack of supply cover last term as well as Covid related issues.
Pembrokeshire council has already confirmed pupils in its schools will be back in contact groups in January and Swansea council’s Director of Education Helen Morgan-Rees said plans would be put in place to return to online teaching if needed.
However Welsh Education Minister Jeremy Miles has said January’s GCSEs will go ahead. Some councils have said exam years will be given priority for face-to-face learning.
Education not covered by new Covid measures
Asked whether any further decisions had been made on next term in light of new Covid restriction laws announced yesterday, a Welsh Government spokesperson said today: “Education settings are not covered by the rule of 30.
“We expect education, childcare and play settings to continue to risk assess their provision, and ensure they take account of the guidance for those sectors.
“We will be providing additional guidance and resources to support schools during their planning days within the next week.”
As schools broke up early for in person teaching last week pupils and staff went home not knowing exactly what the new term will be like. That will depend on emerging data about Omicron and pressure on the NHS as well as staff absence and local risk assessments.
Schools and councils are tasked with making those assessments based on the local situation with coronavirus.
In a letter to headteachers last week the Education Minister said staggered start and end times can be re-introduced. Some schools will continue with, or re-introduce contact bubbles and masks should be worn by all staff and secondary pupils in communal areas and lessons again, the advice said.
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