All schools in Wales will reopen on 29 June, the education minister Kirsty Williams has announced today.

Schools will be open to pupils from all year groups for limited periods during the week, with only a third of pupils in school at any one time, she said.

The summer term has been extended by one week to 27 July, and the autumn half-term holiday will be stretched to two weeks but parents who choose not to send their children to school will not be fined and children who fall into the shielding category will carry on with online learning.

In each school there will be a phased approach. Year groups will be split into cohorts with staggered starts, lessons 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.

Next week, the Welsh Government will publish guidance to support schools, as well as further and higher education institutions. This will include information on managing their facilities and logistical arrangements, including buildings, resources, cleaning and transport.

The Government is also today publishing a paper from its COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group, representing the latest understanding of the virus with respect to children and education.

Further Education colleges are ensuring that appropriate measures are being taken to re-open for face-to-face learning from June 15. They will prioritise those students requiring licence to practice assessments and vulnerable learners. This follows close working with Government and the joint trade unions.

Guidance for childcare providers will also be published in the next week, supporting them to increase the numbers of children in attendance alongside schools.

Speaking today Kirsty Williams said, “Kirsty Williams said:

“My announcement today gives schools three and a half weeks to continue preparing for the next phase.

“We will use the last weeks of the summer term to make sure pupils, staff and parents are prepared – mentally, emotionally and practically – for the new normal in September.

“June 29 means there will have been one full month of test, trace and protect, which will continue to expand. I can also announce that teachers will be a priority group in our new antibody-testing programme. As we continue to keep Wales safe, this approach will be critical.

“The evolving science suggests that warm weather and sunlight gives us the best opportunity to ensure more time in school. Waiting until September would mean almost half a year without schooling.  That would be to the detriment to the wellbeing, learning progress and mental health of our young people.

“This is and has been a worrying period for us all. I know that many will feel apprehensive. We have not rushed this work and this decision.

“The three and a half week period before the next phase also gives us time to keep watch on developments elsewhere and provides further check-points to review evidence and the roll-out of testing.

“This is the best practical option that meets my five principles which underpin my decision making.

“I am also convinced that it is only by returning to their own school that we will see increased attendance from our more vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

“Working together we will secure equity and excellence for pupils as they check in, catch up, and prepare for summer and September.”

Some teaching unions have criticised the move, with Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT – The Teacher’s Union, saying,“It is troubling that the Education Minister for Wales, unlike Ministers elsewhere in the UK, is using emergency powers in order to press ahead with plans for the wider reopening of schools.

 

“The Welsh Government’s measures to relax the lockdown will need to garner the trust and confidence of teachers, parents and the general public if they are to succeed and keep people safe.

 

“The Education Minister needs to provide the scientific evidence on which the Welsh Government is relying to support its plans for the wider reopening of schools.

 

“Parents and teachers will understandably have many questions about today’s announcement, and it is now up to the Welsh Government to demonstrate that it will be safe for schools to reopen to more children.

 

“Teachers and parents need to be convinced that the plans by the Welsh Government will not put at risk the health of staff, children or the general public.”

 

Neil Butler, NASUWT National Official for Wales, said, “Allowing all pupils the opportunity for contact time at their schools is the most dangerous option in terms of virus transmission.

 

“The Welsh Government is well aware of the extreme difficulty of social distancing in schools, especially for younger children. The Minister has also admitted that this is for a ‘check in’ and ‘catch up’ so there is clearly no educational purpose behind this decision. These are not good enough reasons for risking lives.

 

“We are still holding the Minister to the 5 key principles she made and we will expect that schools will not open on June 29 if there is any threat to the physical wellbeing of learners and staff.”