BBC News
Published
Secondary school pupils could all be back in school after the Easter break, the Welsh Government says.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams said it was her preference older pupils return after the holidays, which end on 12 April.
The news comes as three-to-seven year olds return to classrooms in Wales in a phased return to face-to-face teaching.
Other primary pupils, and years 11 and 13, are due to return on 15 March if Covid case rates continue to fall.
However, on Anglesey, the return has been delayed until 1 March, with the infection rate on the island the highest in Wales - 112.8 cases per 100,000 people, compared to a national average of 80 per 100,000.
The Welsh Government has said it will invest a further £15 million in educational technology for schools in the next financial year.
This marks a continuation of the Hwb EdTech programme, which has already involved an investment of over £92 million over the past two years, and is aimed at supporting the transformation of digital infrastructure of all maintained schools in Wales.
It will include funding to support digitally excluded schoolchildren with connectivity through MiFi routers up to the end of the current school year in July.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams (pictured) said: “This last year has brought into sharp focus how important technology is to our schools and our learners.
BBC News
Published
image copyrightGetty Images
image captionAll schools and colleges in Wales were told to move to online learning at the start of this term
Children aged three to seven will return to school after the February half-term, the Welsh Government is expected to confirm on Friday.
Most pupils have been learning from home after a surge in Covid cases led to a Welsh lockdown.
The decision would mean the foundation phase of primary schools returning from 22 February.
But the head of one teaching union said they would not support the move without assurances about teacher safety.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams is expected to make the announcement at a lunchtime press conference on Friday.
By Aaliyah Rugg
Last updated:
The Welsh Government is expected to make an announcement today on whether young children will be allowed to return to the classroom later this month.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams will address the nation at a press conference where she will give an update on the Covid situation in Wales and announce whether foundation phases of primary schools will return.
Negotiations over further safety measures within schools have been taking place with unions this week.
Join us for our live updates as and when we get them!