The education minister has set out plans for when and how schools can reopen in Wales.

Schools in Wales will reopen in phases according to the Welsh Government, and education minister Kirsty Williams has today (Tuesday) set out five key principles for that to happen.

Schools across the country have been closed for over a month with special school hubs set up to look after children of key workers and vulnerable youngsters.

Ms Williams said: “It is vital that parents, staff and students have confidence in returning to their setting. We will only be taking the next step for schools when the evidence and advice is that this is the right thing to do.

“In the next phase, schools will not immediately return to operating at full capacity. It will be a phased approach. This means that I do not expect that schools will be open for all pupils, in all year groups, all week.”

Ms Williams says that schools will begin to open once the coronavirus restrictions are lifted and says the five ‘key principles’ will determine when that can happen.

The five principles are:

The safety and mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of students and staff.

- Continuing contribution to the national effort and strategy to fight the spread of Covid-19.

- Having the confidence of parents, staff and students, based on evidence and information, so that they can plan ahead.

- Ability to prioritise learners at key points, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

- Consistency with the Welsh Government’s framework for decision making, to have guidance in place to support measures such as distancing, managing attendance and wider protective actions.

Ms Williams added: “The ongoing challenge of Covid-19 means we will prepare schools for a range of scenarios for the foreseeable future. However unlikely, we must prepare for an eventuality that requires schools to reduce operations at specific future points.

“We have, and are developing, a broad evidence base to inform these decisions.

“This draws on the latest health evidence, wider international experience, understanding of the workforce’s current capacity and health and well-being impacts on all staff and children in schools.”