Today (29 October) First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, announced plans for new Covid measures.

Laura Doel, Director of school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru said: “Changes to the rules on self-isolation for household contacts are a welcomed move. NAHT Cymru raised the concerns of our members who were repeatedly reporting siblings of Covid-positive learners coming into school only to develop symptoms and go off a few days later. Introducing PCR testing for household contacts will mitigate against wider spread and we hope that results can be turned around quickly to cause as little disruption to education as possible.

“While we welcome any attempt by the Welsh Government to get to grips with spread of Covid, for our members, that means giving them the means to reduce the high level of Covid-related absences among learners and staff.

“At the start of September, we aired our concern that the removal of so many mitigation measures in schools was premature. While it is encouraging to see that Ministers are reviewing the situation, we urge the Government to reintroduce measures that had little or no impact on delivering education, such as allowing them to group learners and reintroducing staggered start times, and to do so sooner rather than later.

“NAHT Cymru has met with the government throughout half term and continues to work with officials on the additional support for school leaders mentioned by the First Minister. While we await further details on that support, we have made it clear it must include practical steps to combat the spread of the virus. What we don’t need is anymore guidance when the situation has already reached crisis point in many parts of Wales.

“The widespread impact on staff absence is showing no signs of letting up. School leaders are covering classes and doubling up as caretakers and lunchtime supervisors just to keep their schools open.

“No one wants to see a child miss any time off school, but there is a real risk that the current policy is inadvertently leading to more children and staff having to take time away in the long run.”