Children and staff show 'resilience' in adapting to home learning, says local head teacher

We spoke to teachers from primary schools in Mumbles about how they are faring with lockdown.

First Minister Mark Drakeford last week said that children could return to school in a phased re-opening from 22 February.

An announcement about whether some children will return to school this month is expected tomorrow.

Schools have been closed since 8 January, only remaining open to the children of critical workers and vulnerable children, as well as those who need to complete essential exams or assessments.

Caroline Morgan, head teacher of Oystermouth Primary School on Newton Road, said that pupils had shown resilience and strength by adapting to home learning.

"The children, parents, staff and Governors make Oystermouth Primary School the wonderful school it is," Ms Morgan said.

"The whole school community has pulled together in response to the Covid-19 pandemic."

Children at the school have been using Hwb, a website and collection of online tools provided to all schools in Wales by the Welsh Government.

Teachers have also been providing live check-ins and resources through Microsoft Teams.

"The purpose of our live sessions is to make sure everyone is safe and happy," Ms Morgan continued.

"The Home Learning activities are engaging and allow the children to challenge themselves accordingly. The children have adapted to online learning well. The downside is that they are missing the social interaction and connection with their peers."

Ms Morgan said that some families have encountered difficulties with accessing multiple devices at the same time.

The school has provided support by giving 20 families laptops on a loan basis.

"I really feel for my parents, who have been tasked again with home-schooling, many working full-time jobs at the same time," Ms Morgan said.

"I would like to say a huge thank you to my amazing staff. From embracing remote learning to providing emergency childcare, all my staff have stepped up to the plate.

"I am also confident that when this is over and things return to normal, my staff will be ready to do the next transition, getting back to normal schooling."

Plaid Cymru have recently reiterated calls for teachers and other key workers to go to the front of the queue when the Covid-19 vaccination reaches their age group.

"We believe that key workers like teachers should be prioritised within their age groups and within the priority groups to ensure that schools can not only re-open but can stay open," Plaid MS Helen Mary Jones said.

Ms Morgan said: "I would love all my staff to prioritised for vaccinations once the elderly and clinically, extremely vulnerable have all been inoculated."

Nub News also spoke to St David's Primary on West Cross Avenue about their experience of lockdown.

A spokesperson said: "It's been quite positive. Parents are happy with the resources that are being put online for the children, but I think it's the demands of parents trying to work as well as doing home learning.

"We've had quite a few positive emails sent over, or phone calls made. I've actually done a questionnaire for parents to fill in to give me a bit more feedback.

"On the whole I think it's been very positive from parents, very grateful for everything the teachers have been doing.

"It's a different pressure for teachers. In school the children can question as many times as they like between 9am and 3pm, whereas when they're at home, they're getting emails sent, and work is being uploaded at 6:30-7pm at night. It's a completely different demand."

Teachers at the school have been making daily announcements to the children in their classes with a list of activities that parents email back or upload to online files once completed.

They also broadcast live lessons twice a week.

"I don't want teachers to feel too stressed, because they've got their own families, and the children," the spokesperson continued.

"We've got to look after ourselves. We try to have a celebration assembly once a week so they can celebrate. It's a happy time for all of them if they join the meeting."

In response to the suggestion that pupils could begin a phased return to classrooms from 22 February, the spokesperson said: "I think you've just got to make sure that everything is in place.

"We had a health and safety visit just before October and we came out as excellent, so as long as all the risk assessments are in place, and teachers and children are safe, then, if that is the right thing to do, we'll do it.

"I think we need to know all of the reasons and the science behind it first because if we stay as we are, we'll be ok to return, but if the R-rate rises then obviously it will change.

"I think everything has to be in place before we do it. Yes, we want the children back, but let's make sure we look after each other as well.

"The main thing for us as a school, is that everyone is safe and well."