Date: December 2020
Dear Parent(s)/Carer(s),
As we approach the end of term and the end of 2020, we would like to thank you in what has been an extremely difficult and challenging year. It has not been easy for you, as parent and carers, given the changes schools have had to make as a result of the Covid-19 virus over the last nine months. The Minister for Education issued a statement yesterday on the return of schools after Christmas. With transmission levels continuing to increase across Wales, and uncertainty over what impact that might have on school staffing levels over the Christmas break, the Minister has agreed to flexibility being built in at the beginning of term. Further to this statement the arrangements for start of the Spring Term for schools in Cardiff is as follows:
First Week of Term (4th January - 8 th January)
From Monday, 4th January all schools (Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Special Schools) will provide distance learning for pupils for the whole week. From Wednesday 6th January, there will be provision for vulnerable learners and children of critical workers in all schools. Learners attending school on these days will be provided with the same learning offer that is being provided through distance learning, to those pupils at home. All pupils eligible For FSM will receive an additional supermarket voucher for this week so if they do attend school please provide them with a packed lunch.
Second Week of Term (11th January – 15th January)
On Monday 11th January the expectation is that all pupils will return to face-to-face learning in all schools unless there are exceptional circumstances such as insufficient staffing levels to operate the school. Should there be any changes to this week, your school will communicate them directly to you, following agreement with the local authority. The return to school in January needs to be as safe as possible for all our learners and our staff. The adoption of a distance learning approach in the first week of term will allow schools to carry out the appropriate planning and preparation needed to ensure they can welcome all learners back safely on Monday 11th January. If you have any further questions or require more information about issues relating to schools due to COVID-19, please read our series of regularly updated questions and answers for parents and pupils which are available here: Covid-19 FAQs for parents and pupils (cardiff.gov.uk)
We would also like to remind parents and carers of when children should be kept at home from school, please visit our quick reference guide here: Guidance for sending your child to school (cardiff.gov.uk) Wales will be entering into a level four lockdown, the highest possible, from the 28th December. These restrictions are designed to make the country safer so we are urging every family to follow the latest Coronavirus rules so that our schools can welcome back all learners into the schools safely from Monday 11th January. Over the holiday period to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading, there are things that everyone in your family can do to help.
These include: Please be alert for symptoms of COVID-19, which are:
If anyone in your family develops any of these symptoms, even if they are mild please book an appointment, either by calling 119 or visiting www.gov.uk/getcoronavirus-test. Further information on symptoms and self-isolation can be found here https://gov.wales/symptoms-and-self-isolation-contact-tracing For general information on COVID-19 https://gov.wales/protect-yourself-otherscoronavirus The COVID-19 online symptom checker can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do https://gov.wales/check-if-you-need-coronavirus-medical-help
Finally, we would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas break and look forward to seeing our children and young people back in schools and early year settings in the New Year.
Yours sincerely,
Melanie Godfrey
Director of Education and Lifelong Learning/ Cyfarwyddwr Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes