It is to be expected that in a medical emergency people may need to be less than two metres apart and may be administering emergency medical care without PPE. You should contact your school, college or local authority for more information. Published 31 December 2020. Decisions regarding the wearing of school uniforms are a matter for individual schools' governing bodies and you should contact your school if you have concerns. What happens when a virus mutates? Universities in Wales have already agreed a staggered start to term. Staff will be recruited on a one-year fixed term contract and are expected to move into educational roles in the following school year. Stay Learning’ programme, the Welsh Government is working with local authorities to support digitally excluded learners during the current pandemic. Following discussions with our union colleagues and local authority and further education partners, we are introducing a number of additional measures to provide staff with an added level of assurance for their safe return to face to face teaching. This will involve identifying those exposed any child or staff member who is at increased risk and provide tailored infection control advice. If a child has mild cold-like symptoms they should continue to go to school, if fit to do so. However, in recognising the current alert level 4 restrictions where the message is for people to stay at home, schools can consider adopting a more flexible approach until non-essential retail reopens under alert level 3 principles. If you are in your third trimester (more than 28 weeks’ pregnant) you should be particularly attentive to social distancing. Face-to-face tutoring in a home is not permitted under the alert level 4 measures in place across Wales. All of Wales is in lockdown (alert level 4). Section 5 of the Healthy Eating in Schools (Wales) Measure 2009 places a duty on local authorities to ensure that drinking water is available, free of charge, on the premises of any maintained school. Schools and colleges should still ensure they are available to discuss any concerns parents may have, and engage with parents via other means, such as by email, on the telephone or through school apps, where appropriate. Local authorities should support schools and providers will need to work in close partnership to fully consider how they can make before and after school provision work alongside their wider protective measures. The Hwb digital learning platform provides access to a wide range of digital tools and content that can support distance learning. Replacement devices will then also be funded for schools out of the wider Hwb EdTech infrastructure programme. The advice to those who are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable has changed. Please see our operational guidance and specific school travel frequently asked questions on arrangements. Our operational guidance for schools and settings sets out how classrooms can be planned to be COVID-secure with reduced contact, changes to classroom layout and adequate social distancing as far as possible. Coronavirus: All schools and colleges in Wales to move to online learning until January 18. Pope Francis arrives in Baghdad for his first international trip since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Online learning, for example through Hwb, recorded lessons, ‘flipped learning’ (pupils work on tasks at home before discussions in class); and live-streaming. 406 KB. However it is recognised that lunchtimes may need to be extended to ensure pupils have time to eat. Secondary school pupils may go back after Easter, Pope lands in Iraq amid virus and security risks. Daily Contact Testing may provide an opportunity to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on in person learning, however this will only be introduced if it is safe to do so. However if during this current time social distancing cannot be maintained, face coverings should be worn in the classroom by staff in all schools and secondary school learners. We have made up to £3 million available as part of the wider Hwb EdTech programme to support ‘digitally excluded’ learners during the coronavirus pandemic. Covid: Schools in Wales opening in summer holiday 'a possibility'. The Welsh Government will provide an additional £29 million to schools to boost support for learners at crucial stages in their education from September. Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be. Reopening schools to all pupils at the same time is "not safe", the first minister has said. The Education Support Partnership has been developing digital resources to provide further support to education staff during these very challenging times. The seven-day average stands at 84 per 100,000 and the R number is below 1. Advice based on the assessment of each individual situation will be provided to support the school in preventing further spread. Further information on routine testing in schools is available. Covid: Schools return with pupils 'excited to see friends' Close Children described being nervous but excited to see friends and teachers for the first time this year. New guidance has been developed on protecting people defined on medical grounds as clinically extremely vulnerable from coronavirus (COVID-19) – previously known as ‘shielding’. Education. The situation is subject to change and we recommend that you check the latest guidance before planning any travel within or outside of the UK. Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales. Uniform can play a valuable role in contributing to the ethos of a school and setting an appropriate tone. Does Wales have a roadmap out of lockdown? COVID-19: 'Very modest changes' to lockdown restrictions in Wales. The priority list is published on the website. In the context of COVID-19 individuals at 'increased risk' are at a greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Wales to shut ALL secondary schools and colleges as Covid cases rocket SECONDARY schools and colleges across Wales are set to shut tomorrow in order to stop the spread of Covid-19. Covid-19 cases in schools. On Monday the Welsh Conservatives called for a Welsh roadmap out of lockdown, in the model of the plans for England. However, headteachers should still be able to use named contingency suppliers where necessary. The 5 traditional days and a sixth National Professional Learning INSET day which should be held during the summer term 2021. Working with the local authority every school should continue to carry out risk assessments and are encouraged to use the All Wales COVID-19 workforce risk assessment tool and put in place controls to minimise those risks, such as the need for frequent and thorough hand washing, surface hygiene and cleaning and one-way systems we have seen work well at the end of the summer term. Further information and questions and answers about Test, Trace, Protect can be found on the Welsh Government website. Covid: Wales schools could reopen after February half-term as cases fall, Drakeford announces. If pupils are outside for a short period it may be easier to keep face coverings on. The Welsh Government has said it does not want to raise people's hopes too early. A face covering principally acts to protect others by reducing airborne transmission of COVID-19. The revised advice only applies to secondary schools. It will help you discuss with your line manager and occupational health team how best to ensure health and safety in the workplace. Video, Celebrating the world's largest female afro, Pope arrives in Iraq amid virus and security risks, Silverman apologises to Hilton for prison jokes, 'Floating ship' photographed off Cornish coast, ‘Stop whining’ over Covid, Brazil’s president says, Australia asks for review of Italy's vaccine block, Tsunami alert lifted after quakes rock New Zealand, Tesla partners with nickel mine amid shortage fears, Italy blocks AstraZeneca shipment to Australia. We will continue to work with the UK Government Department for Health and Social Services, Public Health England, Public Health Wales and our Technical Advisory Group to understand what the latest data is telling us so that we can consider what impact this has on our approach to testing in Welsh schools and colleges. Primary schools in Bangor have today closed just a day after welcoming back the youngest children. it is not a condition of returning to education or requirement for anyone coming on to the school site. Individuals are not required to provide evidence of any negative test on return to school. A further 16 people have died with coronavirus in Wales, according to the latest figures from Public Health Wales. Those who have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering should not be routinely asked to give any written evidence of this. 203,818 (+193) Deaths Deaths Deaths. You are advised that you should no longer attend work outside the home. The advice we have is that it would not be safe to do what he is suggesting. It is important to highlight that the testing policy for schools in Wales should not be viewed as a ‘test to enable’ or ‘test to return’ to face to face learning i.e. 1-min read. "The science is you must return children in tranches and you must pause between each one.". In line with the duty to provide free water, schools need to consider the best way to provide water to a pupil if they forget to bring in their own bottle, or if they need to refill their bottle. Special Schools and PRUs are able to remain open to support vulnerable learners if possible. The guidance should continue to guide schools on how to respond in emergency situations throughout the pandemic. In Wales, we are working to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority schedule. You may be able to reschedule your work experience for a later date, but at this stage it is still too soon to set firm timescales for this. In line with previous guidance we would encourage a practical and flexible approach to ensure individual needs are met whilst minimising contact between groups, this should be considered as part of any risk assessment. The Welsh Government’s Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 issued ‘Advice on Face Coverings for Children and Young People (under 18) in Education settings’. SCHOOL'S OUT Schools in Wales could shut a week early to limit Covid spread before restrictions eased at Christmas . Confirmation from a doctor is not required. The Chief Medical Officer recommends, but does not mandate, the risk assessed use of face coverings in secondary schools in a range of settings where other physical controls cannot be or are unlikely to be maintained. Hwb is designed to be accessed from a wide range of internet connected devices, including smart phones. As our knowledge of COVID-19 has grown, we now know that very few children and young people are at highest risk of severe illness due to the virus.