NAHT Cymru comments as schools in Wales prepare for the start of term

Laura Doel, Director of NAHT Cymru said: “School leaders are doing all they can to ensure they can reopen their doors to learners over the next few days. Teams are going to extraordinary lengths to operationalise new arrangements over the next few days but for these arrangements to work, they must be supported.

“It is vital that schools all have a supply of LFT kits before the term starts, if the new guidance is predicated on this approach, we cannot be let down by supply and distribution issues.  We know that some schools are waiting for deliveries and of course that is a concern.

“Given that staff absence has been an issue for schools since the start of the academic year in September, we believe not prioritising school staff for booster vaccinations was a missed opportunity.  However, the reality is that it is too soon to tell whether the new mitigations, including the much-welcomed return of staggered session times, will be enough.

“Schools will be operating on a day by day basis.  Reverting to remote learning will be a last resort but will be dictated by the availability of staff.  If this needs to happen, we need to be realistic about the level of support for such a provision.  Schools are preparing to support learners at home, but if their teachers are not available to teach them in the classroom, then they won’t be available to teach online.

“Given the incredibly challenging circumstances our schools are operating in, we urge the Welsh Government to ease additional pressures on schools – like the reintroduction of inspections and plans to reform the school day/year, and allow schools to focus on their core purpose of teaching and learning.”