4. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's plans for the resumption of full-time education in September? OQ55397

Since 29 June, our learners have been taking the opportunity to check in, catch up and prepare for the autumn term. Working with stakeholders, we are developing robust plans for children’s return to school in September, and, as I have said on numerous occasions this afternoon, Presiding Officer, I intend to make a statement later on this week outlining my plans.

Thank you, Minister, for that answer, and I appreciate you've answered other questions on this particular area, but I think it shows the sign of correspondence we're all getting from worried parents, teachers and also children who want to understand what the position will be in September. I know you are engaged in that process, Minister, but given the confusion around the previous announcements of the partial opening of schools, the chief medical officer's comments, for example, and the unions' comments, can you convince us that this will be a joined-up announcement that you will be making later in the week to give complete clarity so that people can have confidence that there will be full-time education in September? Because, with the ending of the furlough scheme and the economic pressures that families are facing, it might well boil down to the fact that people will have to think of food over fractions if they don't have full-time education in September. And I hope that you will give us confidence today that that is the direction of travel that you are undertaking for the September opening of schools. 

Well, Presiding Officer, I understand that children, parents and professionals want to know more about what we can expect in September. We are undertaking those discussions, as the Member alluded to. Sometimes these discussions are complicated by the way in which our education system is structured in Wales, which means there are many, many stakeholders that need to be engaged before we can make an announcement, but I'm absolutely clear, and I have been throughout this process, that I am determined to maximise the opportunities for our children's education and to minimise the impact that this disease has had on it. We need to balance the risks—the risks to children and the staff that work with them—from COVID-19. But, luckily, because of the hard work and the efforts of the Welsh public, in beginning to drive that community transmission rate down, we now also need to figure in the non-COVID risks to our children from a prolonged period away from education. And because of the hard work of the Welsh public, we're in a position to be able to do that.

Minister, I'm hearing from distressed parents who have distressed children who want and need to know that they will be going back to school full time in September. Parents living on the Welsh-English border are even considering sending their children to English schools in September. What do you say to those parents? Thank you. 

Mandy, I am a parent that lives in a constituency on the Welsh-English border. Yesterday, my year 9 daughter was able to return to school for the second time. If I lived across that border, in Herefordshire, she would not set foot in a classroom until September. Let's be absolutely clear what the education system and the teachers and the headteachers and the support staff and our local authorities have been able to achieve in Wales: children living in your constituency that would not go to a classroom until September have been able to check in and catch up and begin to prepare. And I will continue to work with those hard-working educational professionals within our nation to maximise the opportunity for our children in September. Let's be very clear about the differences across the border. And I'm glad I'm this side. 

Minister, thank you for your answers to these questions. We now understand clearly that you are going to be making a statement on this issue. But, rightly so, parents are really anxious about this, there's no doubt about it, and they need clarity as soon as possible. Childcare needs to be arranged and there are many other aspects as well. So, following the statement later this week, will you confirm and commit today that any further announcements or information to parents will be given to them as a matter of urgency? Because constituents right across Alyn and Deeside and right across Wales need to know this as soon as possible, just to get their plans in place. 

Of course, Jack. I have endeavoured, throughout this entire period, to be as clear as I can be with educational professionals in Wales and with the parents of Wales. Sometimes that has not been easy, because of, sometimes, the lack of understanding, from especially aspects of the press, about discussions and announcements that have been made regarding other jurisdictions and the impact it has on Wales. We have used a variety of platforms and every opportunity to communicate with parents and, I can assure you, we will continue to do that. 

The decisions I make are one important aspect, clearly, but unless we have the confidence of parents, so that they know that they can send their children into a safe and secure environment, they will not make that choice. I'm really pleased that, because we've been able to offer an opportunity to all children this side of summer, parents can see how safe and secure that their teachers and headteachers have been able to make their schools and, therefore, I hope that that will build confidence for whatever we're able to do in September.