The Education Minister announced on 9 July at all learners in Wales would return to school in the autumn term.

The Welsh Government has published guidance for schools to make sure that measures are put in place to ensure schools can open safely and minimise the risk of the spread of coronavirus.

The term will start on 1 September and schools that can accommodate all pupils from then should do so. There will be a two week period of flexibility to enable schools to complete risk assessments, put the right measures in place, and for pupils to return on a phased basis if this is necessary. A full return for all pupils is expected by 14 September.

What will be different?

In practice, much of the specific plans on how schools will work will be decided locally. Schools are expected to do risk assessments to make sure the right safety measures are in place, including measures for students with complex needs.

For example, the Welsh Government has suggested that schools could consider operating one-way systems in corridors, and using more spaces that are directly accessible from outside, to avoid movement between rooms.

Physical contact between learners, learners and staff, and between staff will be reduced. This will be done by grouping learners together and avoiding contact between groups where possible, rearranging classrooms and staff maintaining distance from learners and other staff as much as possible.

There will be no requirement to wear PPE for routine educational activities. However, there be a requirement to use PPE if a need is identified in a specific risk assessment. Risk assessments should recognise that if a pupil cannot put on or remove face coverings safely, without inadvertently increasing the risk of transmission, they should not wear them.

Physical distancing, hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene (catching a cough or sneeze in a tissue or covering the mouth and nose with an elbow or sleeve) remain strongly evidenced to be the most effective ways to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The Welsh Government guidance says that schools and education settings must ensure learners with complex needs are helped to get this right. Some learners may find it difficult to follow new measures as effectively as their peers. This should be considered in risk assessments in order to support these learners and the staff working with them. It is not a reason to deny these learners face-to-face education.

To support this, school staff should consult parents and carers about specific support needs, and use their discretion flexibly in agreeing the way forward for individual learners. Schools and education settings may need to consider what adjustments are needed to their behaviour policies to respond to this.

Some learners with special educational needs (SEN), including some autistic learners, might need help to prepare for the changes ahead of returning to school. Teachers and special education needs coordinators will be expected to plan to meet these needs, for example, by developing social stories. Some pupils with SEN require additional support from external professionals, for example, specialist teachers or therapists. These professionals will be allowed to move between different schools and measures should be put in place to safely accommodate this support.

School transport

Local authorities remain under a duty to assess travel needs of learners in their area, and must have regard to the needs of disabled learners and learners with learning difficulties.
The Welsh Government has said that travel arrangements they make in light of their assessments must not:

• cause unreasonable levels of stress,
• take an unreasonable amount of time
• or be unsafe.

Local authorities should take account of the particular needs of children and young people with special, educational needs and disabilities and, where necessary, be informed by the views of the parents/carers and school/settings.

Local authorities should consider how learners with additional needs can be provided with safe, bespoke transport arrangements so that they are able to attend school in person and not be disadvantaged. This could, for example, include the introduction of cleaning protocols or finding larger vehicles for transportation.

What we’re doing

If you are worried about your child going back to school, or have questions about what’s happening, contact our Education Rights Service. It provides impartial and confidential information and support to families on school education rights and entitlements.

We’re also telling the Government about your experiences of lockdown and coming out of lockdown so it knows what life is like for autistic people and their families. If you want to share your experiences, and any worries or concerns you have, email us at stories@nas.org.uk