From testing, isolating and face masks: Here's what will happen when schools return in September

The majority of Covid restrictions have been lifted in Wales, but as schools, universities and colleges prepare to reopen again, some guidance on minimising the spread of the virus remains.

Ahead of the start of the new school year, the Welsh Government is asking families and pupils to continue to follow guidance on isolating, testing and vaccination. However, Plaid Cymru says good ventilation should not be ignored.

If you are a parent, staff or pupil, here is what the government is advising you to do as the new term approaches:

Does my child have to wear a mask at school?

Yes, depending on their age. Although masks are no longer mandatory in hospitality settings, concerts or in outdoor crowds, face-coverings must still be worn on public transport, shops and healthcare settings.

Once the new term begins, the Welsh Government says learners Years 7 and above should continue to wear face coverings on school and college transport.

Does my child need to do a Covid test before the start of the new term?

As covid cases rise in parts of Wales following the lifting of lockdown, testing is still an important part of the Welsh NHS' attempts to keep infection rates under control.

The Welsh Government says any staff or learner with symptoms of Covid-19 - however mild – should stay at home and book a PCR test at their closest test site.

Staff in primary schools - and staff and learners in secondary schools and colleges - without symptoms should take two lateral flow tests (LFTs), three days apart during the week leading up to their first day back. If the test is positive they should self-isolate, and book a PCR test.

Going into the new term, staff in primary schools and staff and students in secondary schools and colleges not showing symptoms should continue to take regular rapid lateral flow tests twice a week, and report the results online, the Welsh Government says.

Staff and learners should use any LFTs they have in their household first, or order tests online for free, or collect them from community collection points or pharmacies. Schools will provide tests during term time.

Taking the tests regularly - especially at times when cases are higher - increases the chance of identifying infectious staff or learners before they leave the house to go to school, and unknowingly spread the virus to their friends or family.

What other advice has been issued?

Aside from regular testing and the wearing of face coverings in certain settings, the Welsh Government is also asking people to get the vaccine if and when it is offered to you and you have not already had both jabs.

Plus, you may have heard it thousands of times, but we are all still being encouraged to wash our hands thoroughly and regularly in order to stop the spread of the virus.

Plaid Cymru, has renewed its call on the Welsh Government to make use of all methods available to keep children safe in schools, including ventilation in particular.

“There is an increasing body of scientific evidence suggesting the huge role ventilation plays in reducing the spread of airborne viruses like covid-19; encouraging fresh air to circulate in indoor spaces is one of our key tools for combatting COVID.

“We know that being outdoors reduces the risk significantly, so why is the government hesitant to make use of ventilation to lower transmission in schools? We must use all the tools in our arsenal to keep children safe and prevent COVID spreading amongst the population least likely to be vaccinated.”

So how safe are schools, colleges and universities as we start the new educational year?

While there are no guarantees and the pandemic has been anything but predictable, the Welsh Government appears to be confident that its infection control measures are enough to keep staff and pupils safe.

Jeremy Miles, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, said regular testing will help reduce transmission in our communities, protect the most vulnerable and reduce disruption to-face-to face education.

"Earlier in the summer, I wanted to ensure that at the start of the 2021/22 school year, we could keep learners and staff safe, and lessen the possible disruptions posed by Covid-19", Mr Miles said.

“By now, all of our workforce will either have received or been offered a vaccine. We have also offered the vaccine to all of Wales 16 and 17 year olds, and will offer it to clinically vulnerable 12 to 15 year olds.

“This means the risks posed by Covid are much lower – but we still need people to follow some rules, to make sure we don’t risk the level of disruption of day-to-day learning that we saw during the pandemic.”

The Minister added: “I’d like to thank everyone across Wales for their efforts in helping us to get to this point. And by continuing to follow these measures, we can all look forward to starting a safer and more stable year, in which schools and colleges will be the safest place learners can be.”

Read more: