Return to school explained

The fear of a second coronavirus spike in October was a factor in allowing children in Newtown and throughout Powys to return to school for four weeks this summer, it has been revealed.

Powys County Council was one of three local authorities in Wales that reopened schools for the full four weeks that the Welsh Government wanted.

At the Learning and Skills scrutiny meeting members were told that a two week half term in October had been organised with coronavirus in mind.

Education portfolio holder, Cllr Phyl Davies, said the extra week was about: “Seeking to make good use of schools during a time when the R rate and infections across Wales is at a low point, giving us more certainty than we may have later in the year.”

He added that there were growing concerns about children’s mental health and that they would also need to learn new skills for an extended period of home or a combination of home and school learning when re-opening of schools was being organised.

Cllr Davies added: “When the report was written the  statistical modelling  suggested that October might be a particularly difficult time in terms of pandemic spread.

“Our schools will therefore be closed for two weeks in that month, but with our pupils better equipped for the next phase.

“This was to be a natural firebrake in the pandemic.”

Committee member and a Sennybridge primary school governor,Graeme Robson, said: “Feed back from the children  is that they did enjoy going back for those four weeks.

“It was very much welcomed.”

Mr Robson added that the extra week had been especially important for children in Year 6 who are leaving primary school to start secondary school in September.

“Well done on being one of the few counties in Wales that did this,” added Mr Robson.

The percentage of Powys children who did go back to school was:

Week one – 73 per cent
Week two – 74 per cent
Week three and four- 78 per cent
In other Welsh local authorities councils, schools finished on the original summer term date of July 17, giving children three weeks to check in, catch up and prepare for September.

Pupils on Anglesey only went back for just one week this due to a Coronavirus outbreak at a meat processing plant in Llangefni in June.

 

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service