Caerphilly Observer
Member Sign in Manage Membership
Become a Member - no ads
Menu
  • News
    • Senedd
    • Business
    • Newport
    • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Rugby union
    • Football
  • Membership & Subscriptions
  • Notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Sponsored Content
Menu

Back to school – what do parents think?

News | Rhys Williams | Published: 09:44, Friday July 3rd, 2020.
Last updated: 09:44, Friday July 3rd, 2020

Schools in Wales reopened for the first time in three months this week.

However, no formal teaching is taking place, with schools in Caerphilly County Borough open for three weeks before the end of the summer term.

Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams described it as an “opportunity to check in and catch up”.

Due to social distancing measures, schools are operating with reduced class sizes, meaning many pupils will be in for just one day a week for the remainder of the term.

Schools reopening Q&A: How different will schools be?

At Plasyfelin Primary School, in Caerphilly town, parents and staff clapped the pupils as they returned to school.

However, the reopening of schools has split opinion among parents.

Sam Buckley, who lives in Abercarn, is one of many parents sending their children back to school.

Ms Buckley’s five-year-old daughter, Ffion, returned to reception at Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Gwyddon on Monday.

Five-year-old Ffion returned to school on Monday

Ms Buckley said: “Ffion couldn’t wait to go back and see friends.
“The teachers and staff at the school have done a great job getting everything set up.

“It’ll give the kids a bit of freedom from parents.”

Ms Buckley’s eight-year-old daughter Seren returned to school on Thursday and “couldn’t wait to go back”.

Ms Buckley said her children found the lockdown tough to begin with.

She said: “They struggled to understand why places were closed, but they took it in their stride.

“It was a struggle for me as a parent too.”

Meanwhile, Blackwood resident Sarah Wareham’s two sons also returned to school, and will attend for four hours a week.

Her 15-year-old son is currently in Year 10 at Blackwood Comprehensive and was set to sit some of his GCSE exams this year.

However, due to the pandemic, the exams have been rescheduled and he will sit them next summer.

Ms Wareham’s younger son is currently in Year 7 – the first year at Blackwood Comprehensive.

Ms Wareham said: “I’m very happy they’ve gone back and I support it fully, but why couldn’t they have gone back on June 1 like in England? It’s too little too late.

“Four hours a week is not an education. I would have liked to have seen Year 10 given more time in school.

“But I do appreciate the work that has been done to get schools back open. The kids are happy to be back.”


Sign-up to our daily newsletter


Meanwhile, Caerphilly County Borough Council has confirmed that the education hubs, which operated throughout the lockdown for children of key workers and pupils deemed vulnerable, will continue to run, but will instead be held at the child’s normal school.

Some schools are believed to be segregating pupils who have been attending the hubs during the lockdown. Caerphilly Council would not reveal which schools when asked by Caerphilly Observer.

In a statement, the council said: “Within each school there will be some provision for children of key workers for the school day which is different to the ‘check in, catch up and prepare for summer and September’.

“The number of contact between staff and pupils should be minimised as much as possible and where these contacts take place, there should be a range of mitigating safeguards to help reduce the risk of transmission.

Caerphilly County Borough preparing for return of tourism

“This approach will form part of the risk assessment for individual schools.”

The statement continued: “Limiting social contacts is an important part of reducing the likelihood of seeing large outbreaks of the virus.

“It is important that we continue to reduce mixing between people and groups of people.

“Keeping people in small, consistent groups of adults and children which remain the same throughout the week, and separate from other groups, helps to do this and avoids creating chains of transmission.

“In returning to school, children should attend just one setting wherever possible, and should remain in the same small, consistent group within that setting, as far as possible.

“This will help reduce the likelihood of the virus moving between groups within that one setting, or moving between groups in different settings.”

Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts.

Become a member today

Sam Buckley

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Latest News

  • Treowen Stars handed a heavy defeat by Caerau ElySunday, September 28, 2025
  • Trethomas Bluebirds settle for draw against Cwmbran CelticSaturday, September 27, 2025
  • The North Celynen Practice branch on Ashfield Road, Newbridge, pictured in May 2021
    GP surgery to close branch and move staff and services to main siteFriday, September 26, 2025
  • Aberbeeg Medical Practice, pictured in May 2025
    New operator to take over GP surgeryFriday, September 26, 2025
  • Ex-Reform leader pleads guilty to Pro-Russia bribery chargesFriday, September 26, 2025
  • The new 756 Fast Light Intercity and Regional Trains are being introduced in south Wales
    Cable thefts cause major disruption on Valleys rail lines – with £750k repair billFriday, September 26, 2025

Find out how the communities of Caerphilly County Borough get their names

Caerphilly

Legal & Public Notices

  • Notice of application for a premises licence: Hanbury Road, BargoedThursday, September 25, 2025
  • Notice of application for a variation of a premises licence: Pontygwindy Industrial EstateThursday, September 18, 2025
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, September 18, 2025
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, September 4, 2025
© 2009-2024 Caerphilly Media Ltd, Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community Watford Road Caerphilly, CF83 1BJ. Incorporated in Wales No. 07604006.