Editor

I would like to formally and publicly thank the staff of our schools and preschool staff. I know that our teachers, teaching assistants, headteachers and support staff are continuing to put an unprecedented amount of extra time effort and emotional energy into supporting the children of our county.

Given that children have returned to school, some may think things have returned to some sort of normality. They certainly have not.

I know that the way in which schools have adjusted all sorts of things to ensure children are affected as little as possible has meant that our education staff take the strain.

It is important to me as a community and county councillor - and as a parent and school governor - that they know they are appreciated.

It is also important that the wider public know they are under immense and continuous strain, many times with the uncertainty of what is around the corner.

An example being so far as measures that may appear overnight that would mean them rethinking the way in which they teach and support our children.

I do hope that in future that government makes sure that measures that affect our schools are not simply announced over the BBC or social media without headteachers having prior warning in order to put measures in place first for the sake of our children.

It is an unfortunate pattern that has developed that government resorts to letting key staff know of changes in policy before giving them any prior warning.

This especially happened over the exams debacle over the summer.

Cllr Mark Strong Aberystwyth

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