A council has become the first in Wales to close all its schools early ahead of the Christmas holidays.
Blaenau Gwent Council in South Wales has announced that its schools will move to remote learning from Thursday due to coronavirus rates in the county.
The coronavirus rate in the county is currently the highest in Wales, with the seven day incidence rate standing at 502.4 per 100,000 people.
There have been calls to shut schools across Wales early in the lead-up to Christmas, but the Welsh Government has said they would not bring in the measure nationally.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said it was “more important for our children not to miss out further on the education planned for them”.
But leaders in Blaenau Gwent have now decided to take matters into their own hands due to the concerns about the rate of infection in the area.
A spokesman for the council said: “Blaenau Gwent Council has today made a decision, together with unanimous support from head teachers in the borough, to move to remote learning for all pupils from Thursday, 10th December 2020.
“It is important to recognise that whilst sites will physically close at the end of the school day on Wednesday, 9th December, schools will continue to provide high quality teaching and learning but via digital technologies, such as the Welsh Government Hwb platform.
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“The decision has made in the best interests of the well-being of pupils and their families and in recognition that cases of Covid-19 in Blaenau Gwent remain amongst the highest in Wales.
“The decision ensures that learning can continue until the end of term, and also reduces the potential for pupils needing to self-isolate over the Christmas period.”
They said there had been increasing rates of pupils, and staff, being required to self-isolate for the reason of being a contact of somebody with coronavirus.
A total of 18 schools are now impacted, with over 900 pupils currently being required to self-isolate.
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Councillor Joanne Collins, the council’s executive member for education, said: “We have engaged and listened to our school leaders over plans for the remainder of this term and we are in no doubt that this is absolutely the right decision for learners and their families, giving them the best opportunity to not be facing this Christmas in self-isolation.
“All our schools have worked so hard this year to develop comprehensive remote and blended learning plans for pupils, and these have already been put into practice where pupils have been required to self-isolate.
“Teaching staff will continue to offer support until the end of term.
“School staff have worked so hard to support learners throughout this very difficult year, both during full lockdown and when schools re-opened to provide safe and welcoming learning environments this term. We are thankful for their hard work and dedication to the children and young people of this county borough.
“The council consulted fully with all head teachers, who were unanimously supportive of the move to remote learning.”
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