FCC Press Statement - In case you missed it...

Please see below the press statement that was issued by Flintshire County Council on their website yesterday.

Preparing for an increase in school operations
We welcome the Education Minister’s announcement today that schools can begin to prepare for an increase in operations from 29 June until 24 July 24 to enable pupils to check in, catch up, and prepare for September.
During this period of school closure, we have successfully delivered a safe model of emergency childcare by working in partnership with our schools and other council services. Schools have also worked very creatively to maintain pupil engagement in learning though a variety of means. It is clear that they will have to operate in a very different way for the foreseeable future, providing a combination of face to face and remote learning – a blended learning approach.
Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Education and Youth, Councillor Ian Roberts, said:
“It is important that we start to allow pupils to return before the beginning of the summer holidays.  This time will allow them to rekindle friendships, review how their learning has been going with their teachers and be supported in readiness for the autumn term, particularly if they are at key points of transition.  However, the Minister has clearly indicated that it is for parents to decide if their children should return and the usual attendance requirements will not be in place during this time.
“Staff, pupils, parents and carers will be given as much notice as possible about the individual arrangements in their schools so they have time to prepare for a smooth and safe return.”
Flintshire’s Chief Officer for Education and Youth, Claire Homard, said:
“We have started already to work very closely with head teachers to plan how schools will operate from 29 June and we will update you as soon as we have finalised those plans.
“We appreciate that at this point there may be many questions that pupils and families will have but please be assured that the Council and its schools will seek to address these in the next few weeks and will communicate with you regularly.”
We would like to reassure our school workforce, our pupils and their families that everyone’s safety and wellbeing will be at the core of our planning and preparations. We have well established routines of social distancing and hygiene in all our hub settings which can be transferred into every school. We have detailed guidance, suitable risk assessments and appropriate resources to support our schools in their planning and preparations for reopening and at all times be working within the Welsh Government’s ‘Stay Safe, Stay Learning’ policy framework.



I expect further details of how we can offer some contact time in school for our pupils soon. Once we have more information we will let you know what that contact time will look like for your child. We will be sending out a questionnaire next week along with details of how 'classroom bubbles' will work. Please wait until you have all the information and then make an informed judgement on whether or not you wish to take the 'check in, catch up and prepare' time that is arranged for your child. 
​Thanks