Education
Updated guidance published for schools’ return
ON MONDAY, July 13, the Welsh Government published updated guidance to
support schools before the return of all pupils in September.
Last Thursday, the Education Minister, Kirsty Williams, announced that all learners would be able to return to schools in the autumn.
The
guidance will supports schools, local authorities and settings to
implement full operations in the autumn, including new guidance on
contact groups.
The Welsh Government will make £29 million available to ‘recruit, recover and raise standards’, in response to the pandemic.
Kirsty Williams, the Minister for Education,
said: “This updated guidance reflects the latest medical and scientific
advice, striking a balance between structured national guidance and
local flexibility.
“We have learned this year that we must be
prepared for a range of scenarios. This guidance sets out what learning
priorities should remain constant, regardless of where learning takes
place.
“It will support our schools and education
settings in ensuring learners continue to access a broad and balanced
curriculum and continue to make progress in their learning.
“I would
like to thank our local authorities and the trade unions for their input
into this guidance, and of course our school staff for their
dedication, professionalism and hard work over the last few months,
which has set us in good stead for a full return in September.”
Laura
Doel, director of school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru, said: “We welcome
the fact that schools now have a degree of clarity about what the
September return will look like. Schools can now begin to put plans in
place to welcome all pupils back next term. However, we should not
underestimate the scale of the logistical challenges this guidance will
pose school leaders in particular. We should make no mistake, this is
not a return to ‘business as usual’ and there is a great deal of work
that now needs to be done.
“There are some specific areas where we
still need clarity from the Welsh government. These include their
recommendations around the use of face coverings, and how they expect
wrap-around care to operate.
“It is essential the Welsh government
continues to engage with us on these and other matters too so that
schools and parents alike have full confidence in the government’s plan
for a full return in September.
“Education
Minister Kirsty Williams and Co-chair of TAC Fliss Bennee are joining
our NAHT Cymru webinar tomorrow evening where school leaders will have
the opportunity to put their questions to them directly and we welcome
the willingness and transparency of Welsh Government to engage with the
profession.”
David Evans, Wales secretary for the National Education
Union Cymru said: “Our members, as well as learners and their parents
and carers, want to see as many children as possible going back to
school, but only if it is safe to do so.
“We note the plans for a
wider return to school in September, with priority given to certain year
groups and more disadvantaged children. We will be working with our
members to try and make the return as safe as possible for everyone
involved. The two weeks at the start of term to plan for the safest
return possible is therefore very welcome.
“We believe having a
blended learning approach as ‘back-up’ is sensible. Even when schools
open fully, they may have to close again if there is a further outbreak
as happened in Leicester recently, therefore having blended learning
ready to use is sensible. For this blended learning approach to be
successful, children will need help to get online, with access to a
computer and internet, which, as we understand, some children currently
do not have. Parents may need some extra training, to help support their
children when learning at home.
“An increase in the education
workforce is welcome. We believe that supply staff and those new to the
profession will welcome the opportunity to provide extra support for
those pupils who need it at this challenging time.
“We do believe
that as more children will be welcomed back to school, Local Authorities
should consider the use of public buildings, such as libraries, to
ensure greater capacity for social distancing and focus on everyone’s
wellbeing. More space would allow education
professionals and learners better opportunities to keep safe and we look
forward to seeing more guidance around this. This would also allow education
professionals who are shielding to support learners at home, whilst
keeping safe – and avoiding pressure on our precious NHS resources.
“We support the proposal not to impose fines for parents of children who don’t attend.
“Many education
staff have been in school since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis,
and we are very aware that, like the young people, they need to have a
break ahead of another busy term in September. The two weeks at the
start of term to plan for the safest return possible is therefore very
welcome.”
SECONDARY schools and colleges in Wales will move to online learning from Monday, December 14 as part of a ‘national effort to reduce transmission of coronavirus’ Education Minister Kirsty Williams confirmed today.
The Minister made it clear that, thanks to the efforts of education staff across the country, schools and colleges are safe and secure environments, with almost half of all Welsh schools having had zero covid cases since September.
However, it is also recognised that education settings being open can contribute to wider social mixing outside the school and college environment.
By making this decision, the Minister felt it was important to make a ‘clear, national direction’ to take pressure off individual schools, colleges, local authorities, parents and carers.
The Minister said her decision followed expert advice from Wales’s Chief Medical Officer showing that the public health situation in Wales was deteriorating.
The latest TTP data shows that rates of Covid-19 have further increased across Wales and have now exceeded 370/100k with a test positivity of 17%.
The R rate in Wales has increased to 1.27 with a doubling time of just 11.7 days.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: “Every day, we are seeing more and more people admitted to hospital with coronavirus symptoms.
“The virus is putting our health service under significant and sustained pressure and it is important we all make a contribution to reduce its transmission.
“In his advice to me today, the CMO recommends that a move to online learning should be implemented for secondary school pupils as soon as is practicable.
“I can therefore confirm that a move to online learning should be implemented for secondary school pupils and college students from Monday next week.
“We recognise, as we did during the firebreak, that it is more difficult for primary and special school age children to undertake self-directed learning.
“That is why we are encouraging primary and special schools to continue to stay open.
“Having spoken to local education leaders, I am confident that schools and colleges have online learning provision in place.
“This will also be important in ensuring that students are at home during this time, learning and staying safe.
“Critically, and this is very important, children should be at home.
“This is not an early Christmas holiday, please do everything you can to minimise your contact with others.”
“The education family in Wales has pulled together so many times this year to make a real difference to the course of this virus and ultimately to save lives and I know we can do the same again.
“Together we will keep Wales safe.”
TWO Welsh charities are among those competing for prize funds of up to £5,000 as part of this year’s ScottishPower Foundation Awards, which celebrate benevolent work in local communities throughout the country.
Bangor University Reaching Wider North and Mid Wales Partnership has been shortlisted for its ‘Bright Sparks’ project which inspires school pupils across Wales to take an interest in STEM subjects and ultimately seek a career using the skills they pick up, as well as for its work to develop educational home-schooling packs enable young people to continue learning during lockdown.
Size of Wales, a climate change charity, has been shortlisted for its work to inspire the next generation to take more care of the planet and learn about the ways in which to tackle the climate emergency through its MockCOP programme.
In total, 14 charities from across the UK make up the shortlist of recipients of this year’s ScottishPower Foundation funding, which saw £1.2m awarded to 21 charities across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The annual awards, which are now in their seventh year, are an opportunity for projects to apply for additional funding with each category winner receiving £5,000 and the runners up awarded £2,500.
Due to social distancing restrictions, the winners will be announced on ScottishPower’s Twitter channel – @ScottishPower – over the course of Awards Day at the beginning of December.
Nominated projects are judged in four categories: the Innovation Award, the Education Award and the Community Engagement Award, as well as the Charity Champion Award, which gives special recognition to the outstanding contribution made by an exceptional employee or volunteer who exemplifies what their organisation stands for.
This year’s judging panel is made up of a host of experts from ScottishPower, the third sector, education and communications including Arthur McIvor, Senior Client Manager for Energy & Utility Skills; Juliet Simpson, Founder and CEO of Stripe Communications; Sheila Duncan, Human Resources Director for ScottishPower; and Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee of the ScottishPower Foundation.
Melanie said: “2020 has undoubtedly been an incredibly challenging period for many of the organisations that we work with. However – in the face of adversity – each and every charity on our awards shortlist has continued to support, educate and inspire those who rely on them, using the Foundation funding to make a real difference. We’re very proud to build on this and further recognise their achievements through the ScottishPower Foundation Awards.
“All our shortlisted finalists are fantastic examples of the amazing charitable work that goes on across the country every day, with people devoting themselves to others, pushing the boundaries for change and transforming lives in the process. I wish everyone on the shortlist the very best of luck for Awards Day and encourage everyone to follow our Twitter channel where we will be announcing the winners on 1st December.”
The ScottishPower Foundation was established in 2013 to make a significant and lasting contribution to society, enhancing the lives of people living in communities throughout the UK. It provides funding to help support the advancement of education, environmental protection, arts and culture and citizenship. It also supports charities who aim to provide relief from poverty, disability, or other disadvantages.
The charities across Wales shortlisted are:
Bangor University (Reaching Wider North and Mid Wales Partnership)
Bangor University (Reaching Wider North and Mid Wales Partnership) works alongside primary and secondary school pupils as well as adults with no formal qualifications to increase higher education participation among lower socio-economic groups.
Size of Wales
Size of Wales is a climate change charity with the aim of conserving an area of tropical rainforest twice the size of Wales. The organisation encourages the people of Wales to help tackle climate change by taking simple positive action, working with schools and businesses to raise funds for forests and raising awareness of the importance of forests in tackling climate change.
The local charity Tir Coed teamed up with Cross Hands Primary School to design and install a locally grown woodland shelter to enable primary school pupils to benefit from outdoor lessons-even when
the rain pours!
Last year Cross Hands Primary School received funding from Carmarthenshire is Kind for their intergenerational project. The project brought the schoolchildren together with older people in the community. Through intergenerational activities, everyone involved increases social connectedness, reduces social isolation, learns from one another and has a great time!
Before the lockdown, Tir Coed was contracted to lead a group mainly made up of parents from the school on a shelter-building course. The attendees would gain knowledge and skills and the children and the older people would be able to use the shelter, a third generation now included in this
fantastic project. The plans, however, had to change due to restrictions and in an effort to have it ready for the children when they returned to school, three intrepid Activity Leaders braved the wet August weather to build the beautiful shelter .
Studies have shown that being in the outdoors significantly reduces the risk of spreading the Corona Virus. With this addition to their already impressive outdoor area, it is hoped that more learning can
take place outside the classroom. Deputy Head, Emma Walters said, “It looks amazing! I am very impressed with the shelter and I cannot thank Tir Coed enough for organising this. Additional covered space in the outdoors will mean that we can take more learning into our lovely nature
area.”
If you would like to find out more about the work of Tir Coed or have a project you would like our help with you can contact Nancy, the Carmarthenshire Coordinator: carms@tircoed.org.uk
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