Council and health chiefs ask Flintshire parents to help make childrens return to school “a success”

As schools gear up for the return of more pupils to classrooms later this month, education and health chiefs in Flintshire have called on parents to “work with them” making the return “a success.”

First minister Mark Drakeford said he hoped to see all primary school children and those taking examinations back on March 15.

Foundation phase children bagan a phased return to classrooms two weeks ago.

All secondary school pupils could then begin to have some form of in school time after the Easter holidays, which end on 12 April.

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board Director of Public Health Teresa Owen and Claire Homard, Flintshire Council Chief Education Officer have written to parents asking them to “continue to help to control the spread Covid.”

They have said: “As your local Director of Public Health and Chief Officer for Education, we felt it was important to write to you as your child/children return to school, to ask for your help in working with us to make this return a success.”

In the letter, published via the council “Email Bulletin Service” parents are asked not send children to school “if they are unwell even if you are not sure if it is coronavirus.”

Parents are also asked to “continue to work at home if at all possible.”

They ask that when parents take children to school, “always keep your distance from other parents and don’t stay around and chat.”

Parents are urged not to ”invite other children or their parents to your home to play or stay even outdoors and even if they are in the same bubble at school.”

”They are also asked – unless you have no choice – not share a lift to school or other activities with other families.”

The letter states: “In managing the pandemic locally and protecting our population, we work closely with colleagues in the Health Board, the Local Council, voluntary and community organisations and Public Health Wales but we cannot succeed without your help and that of everyone who lives in Flintshire.”

“Our Headteachers and all their staff have worked very hard to make our schools as safe as possible.”

You can read the update in full below: