Schools in Wales reopening.

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

Still all up in the air it seems according to the NEU leaking info in discussion.

Message from David Evans, Wales Secretary:

There have been rumours circulating that Kirsty Williams will be announcing that schools will reopen in Wales during August having truncated the Summer Term and moved the traditional summer holidays forward to commence in June. I write to confirm that will not be happening and to provide detail of discussions we have had with the Welsh Government as follows: -

As you are aware, there has been constant dialogue between ourselves, the other trade unions and government officials ever since the schools were closed in Wales on 20 March 2020. We have discussed many different issues and whenever the topic of schools reopening has been raised it has been confirmed that any such decision will be dependent upon scientific and medical advice. Each of the devolved nations have been making their own decisions as matters relating to the COVID pandemic have progressed with England announcing a return to school with effect from 1 June and Scotland with effect from 11 August. Inevitably it was incumbent upon Kirsty Williams to consider a return in Wales.

On Tuesday 26 May I was contacted by the Minister’s special adviser asking whether I was available to speak to her that evening. Of course I agreed and she indicated that she was considering 3 options. First was to do nothing at this time and reopen schools in September. The second option was to consider reopening on either the 22 or 29 June with no decision as yet on year groups, phased return etc. The third option would be the most radical and that was what she wanted to explore with me.

This option would see the summer term ending on or around Friday 19 June. There would then be a 6 week summer break with schools returning in the week commencing 3 August. The Autumn term would then be structured so that pupils would have regular week long breaks though staff would still be required to attend “planning weeks”. Essentially it meant that the Autumn term would be stretched to 20 weeks though there would be a half term week. There were other significant issues prevalent in the proposal that would not be in the best interests of our members or the profession in general.

I raised significant concerns about this and subsequently attended a meeting of the joint trade unions who all had similar reservations. Those were expressed in a joint statement delivered to WG this morning ahead of a planned meeting with the meeting this afternoon.

At the start of today’s meeting and as a result of our concerns, Kirsty Williams confirmed that the option for schools to open in August was being abandoned.

She does, however, wish to explore the possibility of schools reopening before the end of term and also suggested to day that the summer term may be extended for a week with Autumn half term then being extended to 2 weeks rather than 1. She is also considering including “preparation weeks” during the Autumn term which would occur every 3 weeks and mean that pupils would not be present in school. There are many considerations that have to be taken on board and when given the opportunity I was able to express many of them as follows: -

1. The First Minister stated today that the R number in Wales is currently 0.8 which is the same as 3 weeks ago. We would therefore want to see significant progress in this.
2. The track and trace system for Wales will not be up and running until next week and we would want to see clear evidence that it was effective.
3. Any return to school must be subject to scientific and medical advice that we would want to see and comment upon.
4. A system of operating physical distancing in schools would have to be available with evidence that it worked.
5. Availability of PPE and good system of cleaning
6. Clear evidence that the virus was under control.
7. Evidence of educational advantage in the return for such a short period of time.
8. Opportunity to prepare for the return
9. Satisfactory completion of the tests set out in Kirsty’s Framework

10. Adherence to the tests set out by the joint unions.

Sometime tonight I am due to receive a copy of a draft proposal for which they will require comments by 4.00pm on Monday. I will then be involved in a further meeting at 9.00am on Tuesday with the Minister likely to make an announcement on Wednesday.

Thank you for this. Unions strong in Wales thankfully. Imagine a 20 week term!

Good god no!
I've read they are still pushing for an early summer holiday so it's not completely off the cards yet according to the papers.

7. Evidence of educational advantage in the return for such a short period of time.

Finally someone with some sort of authority has mentioned this.

Hmmm... the possibility of them extending the term by a week beyond the 17th July is still on the table as far as my ht is aware.

Which will have issues for people contracted only til the end if this academic year as the idea is we still go back as first intended but get the week back in oct.

I had a uk holiday week booked for that week in July! Which obviously might not happen but could. I can't be the only one with such plans.

I've heard that secondary schools are back for some years (10 and 12 most probably) from the 29th June. I don't have any info on primary schools. Pupils will have to social distance so they'll have to be on some sort of rota. Kirsty Williams (Education Minister) is set to announce today (Wednesday) following extensive meetings yesterday.

Well I didn't see it coming. Opening to all years by end of month, albeit part time. FFS!

Nothing to do with education either.

Extended term dates too. Bang goes your holiday card1gan ☹️

As a year 6 teacher, I expected to be one of the only year groups due to go back, as in England. It has come as a bit of a shock to hear it's all pupils.

But the 'some time' and phased return that will be interesting. As will the ability for us as teachers to juggle teaching those who are in face-to-face while still providing quality online work. If there are pupils going back for the full 5 days then that really limits the time left for responding to online work and setting more.

I also need very clear guidance of who should and should not be going back to work. As an 'at risk, vulnerable but not shielding' teacher, I've been gently pressured into working in the hub school and they will be expecting me to return with all the others. I need to see their guidance and decide where to take my stand!

And yes - bang goes my week away in London. The hotels are opening on the 4th of July if the plan goes ahead, so they won't see a reason for me to be able to get a refund based on having being told now to work.

I have a 2 week Uk holiday Booked from18th July. Paid in full. Looking likely campsites will be open by then. I can’t afford to lose the money but won’t get a refund if they are open for business.
As deputy head I’ve worked every week since March 20th including Easter and May half term unpaid! I refuse to lose out financially again!

Just as I was beginning to think we were doing things better here. What is the point of the week delay to the holidays... if only 1/3 are in at any one time it is a day or 2 extra per pupil. But instead teachers such as Annie987 are losing money and teachers such as myself on temp contracts will have to work without the benefit of the extra week in Sept! Can you tell I am feeling grumpy?! I am also a bit concerned at how we are expected to be in school full time and keep distance learning going.

I'm disgusted with the decision that school staff will just have to suck up working an extra week and losing booked holidays. I don't work in Wales but my DC's school is here. Their HT seems to think staff are happy with it but I hope they don't take it lying down. Ridiculous posturing that could have been avoided by acting earlier. They also seem determined to play chicken with England by having up to a third in.

I'm really concerned for a number of reasons. I can't see much actual teaching going on this term, so what's the point in having an extra week? Instead we'll lose a teaching week in October when we have a 2 week half term break. I'm hoping I'll be doing some proper teaching then! I don't want to lose another precious teaching week.
In a secondary school, if pupils aren't able to be taught by a subject specialist, as their class has been split in three, they'll be at a massive disadvantage. And if they're not being 'taught', and it's a wellbeing exercise, what do we do with them all day?
If some pupils are in all week, when will teachers have the time to prepare lessons, set work, provide feedback and respond to emails for the other pupils who are at home? We can't do two jobs at once.
As a teacher in a secondary school, I won't be with the same bubble of children all week, potentially I could be with 50 different children a day.
Our corridors are tiny. My classroom is nowhere near a sink.
I saw a group of Year 9 girls on my walk yesterday, not socially distancing. If parents aren't making them, how are we going to have any chance?
Do students stay in the same room all day and teachers move around? Who supervises them at lesson changeover time?
Most of our children get to school on a bus, so how would that work if there are staggered starts etc.
On a personal point of view, I'm worried about childcare. If my own child is only in for a day a week, or whatever hit school decides, what do I do with him? There is also no wrap around childcare for the day(s) he will be in.
What if teachers have already booked and paid for a UK holiday. Schools couldn't afford to reimburse them. Will they be allowed not to go to work?
Sorry, so many questions. It will be very difficult for school leaders to sort something out, especially as the guidance isn't being share until next week.

Or have I interpreted it wrongly when I watched the briefing , and the extra week will be in September, and not an extra week on the October half term. Either way, I don't really see the point.

I took it to mean 2 weeks in October. I thought I was being petty about the holidays when there is so much going on - glad it isn't just me! I think I have read AIBU too much and it's got to me!

My year 8 daughter is worried about not being with her friends going back - but as I started reassuring her that they probably won't just split the class by register order because of the transport and the different sets they are in I realised what a logistical nightmare it is for secondary!

It will be 2 weeks at October.

@annie987 , I listened to the webinar that the NAHT had with Kirsty today. She was asked what should staff who have holidays booked to if they were in the week that is now a working week, not the first week of the holidays.

Her answer went along the lines of 'Well, the prospect of a holiday is great, isn't it? If any staff have a holiday booked and find they can take it then we would not be expecting them to cancel it to attend work'.

So there's still hope for my booked uk trip as hotels are theoretically opening up on 4th July and I imagine we'll be allowed a little amount of travel by then in Wales too.

Not sure what my boss will think though....

The reason they've added an extra week now is to make the most of the time when the R is dropping and it's 'safe' enough to do it. And the extra week off is timed for Oct because the scientists are still considering that things will become worse again in the Autumn. In which case, they can shut the school for 2 weeks instead of one and call it a holiday instead of a lockdown!
There are also likely to still be planning weeks in the Autumn term, too, so they won't all be weeks for the kids to be in.

That makes sense but in a way makes me feel even worse about working (unless I get paid an additional week). We were looking at booking a week then but didn't because of the money situation if I didn't find anything.... so now I will have to work and won't get the extra time off either, when colleagues who could afford to book a holiday don't have to work it and get an extra week off in October.

I wonder secretly if, for example, that I was to be in the position to take my July holiday, whether I'd be then expected to work the October extra week in return, maybe covering the key worker pupils.

I’ve heard that anyone who can prove they booked holidays for the first week of the holidays will be allowed to go if the holiday can go ahead. The payback will come by having to work the extra half term week looking after children of key workers.

The same applies to new starters and those returning to the profession/ coming back after maternity. If you don’t work the extra week of summer term you will have to work the extra half term week as you’re contracted to work 195 days/year.

Perhaps the thinking is there's no way we'll be open for tourism by then (we've booked Pembs)

More than happy to work the extra week in October. So glad there is a bit of hope!

I don't usually listen to Radio Wales but they are going to discuss this at 8:30 so I will be tuning in.

I think some of our parents are going to be unhappy at the extent of provision that will be provided.
Rotas for children can mean they attend as little as once a week, or if there are lots of key worker children taking up the capacity then it could even be less than that.