Important Letter to Parents & Carers ~ Ceredigion School Arrangements January 2021
Dear Parents / Carers,
Yesterday, Welsh Government placed Wales in Tier 4 as from 24th December, 2020 in order to attempt to manage the spread of Coronavirus. Last night, Local Authorities were provided with information on flexible school opening arrangements for the beginning of January 2021. Welsh Government will expect all schools to have fully opened to pupils by the 18th January, 2021.
I write to you to explain the arrangements for Ceredigion schools for January 2021.
Monday, 4th January, 2021 and Tuesday, 5th January will be In-Service Training and preparation days in both the primary and secondary sector. Therefore, there will be no pupils on the school site and pupils will not be taught remotely on these two days.
In the primary sector, teachers will provide distance learning from Wednesday, 6th to Friday, 8th January, 2021.
If required, children of frontline critical workers will be able to attend their school from Tuesday, 5th January, 2021 for childcare purposes. The school will make every effort to keep the pupils within their contact groups. Children attending this provision should bring a packed lunch.
Our aim is to fully open schools for all primary pupils as from Monday, 11th January, 2021.
In the Secondary sector, pupils in years 11, 12 and 13 will attend the school site as from Wednesday, 6th January, 2021. Usual transport arrangements will be provided for these pupils.
Pupils in years 7-10 will receive distance learning provision between Wednesday, 6th and Friday, 8th January, 2021.
Children of critical frontline workers in years 7 and 8 will be able to attend their school from Tuesday 5th January for childcare purposes. The school will make every effort to keep the pupils within their contact groups. Children attending this provision should bring a packed lunch.
The aim is to fully open schools for all secondary pupils from Monday, 11th January, 2021.
Our unit resource based centres for pupils with Additional Learning Needs that are located on the campus of some schools will open fully to both primary and secondary pupils on 5th January, 2021. Similarly, the Pupil Referral Unit will also open in full on the same date. Transport arrangements will be provided as per usual for these pupils.
Definition of critical frontline workers:
Schools will provide childcare for pupils with 2 parents or a single parent working for the front line service of health or social care services.
We ask you to contact your school tomorrow (18.12.20) if you require and are eligible for childcare provision between 5th-8th January.
Pupils eligible for Free School Meals will receive a voucher or payment to cover the week, and these will be sent out during the first week in January.
If your child, or any member of your household has Covid-19 symptoms during the holiday period please continue to request a test by phoning 119 or using the online portal https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test.
If your child has a positive Covid test result over the holiday period please e-mail your child’s name, year group and school to SchoolCovidSymptoms@ceredigion.gov.uk. The self-isolation period has now changed to 10 days and not 14 days.
We understand that these are uncertain times for all, and we greatly appreciate your co-operation. In mid-December, it is extremely difficult for us to foresee the position that we may find ourselves in by the first week of January. We hope that these arrangements provide you with clarity regarding the week of 5th - 8th January, 2021.
We wish you a very Merry Christmas and desperately hope that 2021 will be a much more positive year for all.
Yours sincerely,
Meinir Ebbsworth
Chief Education Officer
Corporate Lead Officer: Schools and Culture
