UNCERTAINTY surrounds the return of younger learners to school after half term in Ceredigion, despite neighbouring counties setting out timetables for a full return.

Following a Welsh Government announcement last week that children aged three to seven would be free to return after the February half term, parents and carers have eagerly awaited details of how the “phased return” would be implemented in just over a week’s time.

The move will mark the beginning of a return of face-to-face primary teaching following several weeks of lockdown and distanced learning.

In Powys, the council said in a statement that all learners aged three to seven will begin a "phased and flexible" return to their school/early years setting from Tuesday, 23 February, and they are aiming for all Foundation Phase learners to return by Friday, 26 February.

And in Pembrokeshire, the council said that from Tuesday, 23 February, schools will begin a phased return, and are “preparing for a full return of all Foundation Phase learners on 1 March”.

But Ceredigion council has not responded to requests to make clear what the timetable for a return to school will look like in its schools.

It follows confusion after one Aberystwyth school initially told parents that all children in the Foundation Phase would attend from Wednesday 24 February, only to retract that the following day, blaming a change in the guidance.

Ceredigion has the lowest rate of Covid cases in Wales, according to the latest Public Health Wales rolling seven-day figures available (up to 6 February), at 46.8 cases per 100,000 of population. Flintshire in North Wales has the worst levels in Wales, at 187.7.

Ceredigion County Council has not responded to requests to comment.

Carmarthenshire Council has also been asked to supply details of its school return arrangements.