As parents and children alike gear up for a return to schools in Wales for the first time since March, the length of the summer term will not be the same in every location across the country.
On June 3, the minister for education Kirsty Williams announced that schools in Wales would partially reopen on what the Welsh Government is calling a ‘check in, catch up and prepare’ basis.
Schools will reopen on Monday, June 29, and it was announced earlier in the month that the term would last for a total of four weeks before pupils would break up for the summer holidays.
“In each school there will be a phased approach,” the Welsh Government said.
“Year groups will be split into cohorts with staggered starts and breaks. It is expected that this will mean, at most, a third of pupils present at any one time, though schools may need time to reach this level of operation.
“There will be much smaller classes, providing secure dedicated time with teachers and classmates. This time will include online and personalised classroom experience, getting children and teachers ready for a similar experience in September.
“It is proposed that all schools will start the next phase on 29 June, with the summer term extended by a week, therefore the last day of term will be 24 July.”
However, some local authorities in Wales have now announced that the school term in certain areas will actually be one week shorter.
It's understood the decision was taken out of headteachers' hands after talks between unions and local education authorities broke down.
We've been told that the Welsh Government and the school workforce Trade Unions have not been able to reach a common position on the fourth week despite ongoing discussions.
It means that without such national agreement term dates remain a matter for local councils to decide and many, including in Cardiff, Newport, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly, schools wont be opening for the last week.
All three councils have announced on Friday that all schools in these counties will formally close on Friday, July 17, one week before the Welsh Government guidance.
Newport City Council has said opening a further week, until July 24, would be “unfair and potentially divisive”.
A spokesman for the council said: “Much work has been done with head teachers and governing bodies to put plans in place to meet the needs of the students, while ensuring the ongoing health and wellbeing of both students and staff.
“Local authorities are responsible for setting terms dates and we do not propose to ask teaching and other school staff to ‘volunteer’ during this week. Therefore Newport schools will close to pupils for the summer holidays on July 17.
“There is no contractual obligation on staff to work the extra week and this effectively puts the onus on head teachers and individual staff members which would, in our opinion, be unfair and potentially divisive at a time when schools face more than enough challenges.
“There is no guarantee that all schools will be in a position to adequately staff provision in the fourth week on a voluntary basis.
"Clarity is required for schools, parents and young people in order to approach the next weeks with confidence and for parents to have the opportunity to make alternative childcare arrangements as required in the fourth week. This is not something that can be left to the last minute.”
In Caerphilly, meanwhile, the decision has been taken as part of a “consistent approach”.
“The original proposal was for pupils to return for a period of four weeks, however, after extended discussions we have concluded that our schools will now open for three weeks and close for the summer holidays on July 17,” said council leader Philippa Marsden.
“We are taking a consistent approach across Gwent and I very much welcome this opportunity for pupils to check in and catch up before the summer break. Our priority is to safeguard the health and wellbeing of pupils and staff, as well as ensuring learning can resume as quickly and safely as possible.”
Blaenau Gwent has said that it has made its decision in order to “provides certainty” to staff and parents.
Councillor Joanne Collins, executive member for education at Blaenau Gwent Council, said: “We’re working closely with all our schools in order to welcome back groups of learners for ‘check in, catch up’ sessions, in order to help prepare them for September.
"The main focus of the sessions will be the well-being of our children and young people and for teachers to assess where pupils are with remote learning.
"The Council has today made a decision that the current school term in Blaenau Gwent will formally end on Friday, July 17 as originally planned.
"This decision is an approach that is being reflected across the Gwent region, and indeed across Wales, and we believe provides certainty to school leaders, teaching staff and parents so that they are able to effectively plan ahead.”
Some councils have maintained that they will be open until the original date issued by the Welsh Government of July 24, although not all have issued updates in recent days so their stance could be subject to change.
