Teachers and parents share anxieties over pupils' return to the classroom as Covid cases rise

Teachers and parents in Wales have spoken of their concerns about children returning to school for the new term amid rising coronavirus cases in the country. Hannah Thomas reports.

Guidance on how Welsh schools should work to limit the spread of coronavirus has been slammed as "contradictory and confusing" by unions.

NAHT Cymru, the union for school leaders in Wales, argued more clarity is needed with students and staff returning to the classroom this week for the Autumn term.

Rebecca Thomas from Caerphilly said she is worried for her son George, as both of them have a spleen condition that weakens their immune systems.

She told ITV News they are waiting to be vaccinated, but had "anxiety" about him returning to school amid infection rates going up.

Teachers too have spoken about how they feel anxious about what the future holds.

Despite the uncertainty, Jason Hicks the headteacher at Islwyn High School near Blackwood, says staff have been flexible and committed to making the situation work.

"We left school in the summer term with case rates declining. Across Wales it seems in the last few weeks some of those graphs have turned in a slightly different direction.

"We’re constantly reassessing transmission rates and the latest advice from the Welsh government, working really closely with the local council to make sure that we’re as joined up as we can be.”

The Welsh Government has outlined how schools can return, in its Local Covid-19 Infection Control Decision Framework.

It has given schools a transition period until 20 September to put appropriate safety measure in place and manage the level of risk for staff and learners.

It follows the country's move into Alert Level 0 in August.

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

In the guidance it wants schools to operate as "business as usual" as far as possible.

To achieve this, staff in primary and secondary schools and students in secondary schools and colleges should take regular rapid lateral flow tests twice a week, so outbreaks can be detected.

Any staff or learner with Covid-19 symptoms - however mild – are being told to stay at home and book a PCR test at their closest test site.

The Welsh Government has stressed that adequate ventilation is important, as well as regular hand-washing and maintaining appropriate levels of cleaning.

Specific days set aside for deep cleaning will no longer be needed but will be "helpful" if clusters are found, the guidance reads.

Laura Doel, the director of NAHT Cymru, claimed the guidance is confusing.

"Stating that operations should return to 'business as usual' seems out of step, given that Covid-19 cases are rising and the First Minister says he won't rule out further restrictions coming back into place.

"We fail to see how school leaders are going to pick up this framework and know what to do, which will leave us once again turning to local authorities for support in establishing local authority-wide approaches to give some level of consistency and support to schools."

The Welsh Government has said with the overall risk level being low, schools will only need to put additional measures in place "if the local risks differ from this national rating."

It said it is expecting local authorities to work with their schools to decide how these measures should be tailored. 

However Ms Doel has also criticised the framework for saying Wales is at low risk while instructing schools to continue with lateral flow testing secondary pupils and all school staff.

"According to today's framework, that is a practice for when we are at high risk. Also, where the advice refers to rising hospital admissions and the seven-day rolling incidence of infection, that appears to put us in the moderate risk category."

"When we are talking about risk, when we are planning for what we want to be a sustainable return, we must be absolutely clear of the risk level. We don't feel this is clear enough."

• Entire year group in Welsh school being urged to get a Covid test after prom

• Rules on masks and classroom 'bubbles' lifted in Welsh schools from September

• 'It cannot go on like this' Medics plea as hospital admissions continue to rise

• 'I've lost so much time' Why care homes are still restricting visits to see loved ones