A date for re-opening schools in Wales is expected to be announced tomorrow (Wednesday, June 3).
Wales' education minister Kirsty Williams will outline detailed plans for bringing pupils back into the classroom at the daily Welsh Government briefing, which begins at 12.30pm.
It is understood the Welsh Government has been looking at re-opening schools on a phased return on either June 22 or 29.
Exact details will be released tomorrow lunchtime, but it is expected the minister will say there is scientific evidence to support some pupils returning this term. You can read more on how schools could operate when they re-open here.
Schools were ordered to close on March 20 just before the nation went into lockdown.
Wales' largest teaching union, NEU Cymru, said a survey of members over half term last week showed an “overwhelming majority” don’t want schools to re-open until September. They are likely to be disappointed.
Teaching unions have expressed concern about returning younger children, pointing out that social distancing is impossible for this age group and restrictions may make it counterproductive to their learning and experience of school.
The Welsh Government would not comment before Wednesday's announcement but writing on the NEU Cymru Facebook page, NEU Cymru Wales' secretary David Evans said the dates of June 22 or June 29 have been suggested for schools re-opening.
Kirsty Williams has previously said not all pupils will return to school at once. She said they would open in a phased return based on five principles.
Teaching unions said members were divided, with some keen to get back to work and others anxious about their safety and that of the wider public.
Results from a survey of members carried out by NEU Cymru during half term last week, just released, show a majority don’t think schools should re-open until September, but if they must then a phased return of years six, 10 and 12 is the best option.
Mr Evans said: “Their concerns relate to social distancing, staff/pupil ratios and PPE.”
Some schools have been open as hubs for key workers and vulnerable children since they closed to all pupils in March and lessons could be learned from these situations, said unions.
NASUWT Cymru national official for Wales Neil Butler said: “Our position on phased return is to say yes, when there is scientific and medical evidence to say it is safe to do so.
“There is no one you would speak to who does not want children back in school learning but the problem is whether that is going to set off the virus and a danger to our members and the community at large.
“The problem really is that social distancing is impossible in schools, especially for younger children.
“Everyone needs to understand and accept that and not pretend social distancing is possible.”
Whatever happens, the re-opening of schools must fit in with the wider guidance on easing lockdown, warned Rebecca Davies, deputy general secretary of UCAC.
“There are a lot of questions about practical issues such as provision of PPE and class size. If you have one or two year groups in spread over three or four classrooms you need more teachers," she said.
“Who finances the extra costs of all this for schools and is there enough capacity in cleaning services?
“Any return of pupils, even if phased, might look at odds with the rest of the advice. Clearly people will be travelling more than five miles - particularly in the Welsh medium sector - and meeting people from more than one household at a time.
"So that means nothing is surely going to happen for the next three weeks? It is difficult to conceive of any great scaling up in schools of the broader rules don’t change.
“People will say they are making sacrifices not seeing their parents 10 miles down the road and yet pupils are expected to mix further away.”
All three unions praised the open dialogue and regular meetings they have had with the Welsh Government and Kirsty Williams since schools were ordered to shut in March but said many obstacles and uncertainty remains.
The minister and the Association of School and College Leaders have already warned that some remote learning will still be likely in September and no one should expect schools to look like they did before the pandemic at the start of the new academic year.
Some schools have been open as hubs for key workers and vulnerable children since they shut to all pupils in March.
