A MUM campaigning for full reopening of Welsh schools revealed her eight-year-old son said “I want to die” after being isolated from his friends during lockdown.

Stephanie Sprake, from Connah’s Quay, said it is heartbreaking to see the change in son Matthew since lockdown took hold.

She is a member of Us For Them Cymru, a Facebook group which believes the dangers lockdown pose to children’s mental health and wellbeing outweigh the risks of Covid-19.

Mrs Sprake, who works for an accounting body, said Matthew and sister Charlotte, 11, have uniquely different outlooks on returning to school in September.

Matthew, who attends Ysgol Wepre in Connah’s Quay, has no certainty he’ll be with his classmates again, as Welsh Government remains cautious.

A goalkeeper at Airbus UK’s academy, he also missed out on football and the cumulative effect saw him withdraw said Mrs Sprake.

Sister Charlotte will start at Wirral Grammar School in England in September, where classes will start relatively normally in full year groups.

The Leader:

Matthew Sprake proudly wearing his Airbus goalkeeper's kit at Liverpool FC's acacdemy

Mrs Sprake said: “In September it looks like I’m going to be waving my daughter off and keeping my son at home.

“I really think I am going to have to get him mental health help.

“No one is downplaying the risks of Covid but it’s gone on for so long and there’s clear evidence the risks to children and teachers are low, because children don’t get very ill and don’t pass on the virus easily.

“My eight-year-old has been really lonely and just wants to go back to school.

“He said to me he wants to die…’mummy I just want to die’. He’s so sad.

“If he thought he could go back to school in September there’d be some hope.”

The group is advocating full reopening of Welsh Schools in September.

They cite countries like France, Denmark, Holland and Denmark to back up their conviction children are at low risk of being ill and passing the virus on.

Mrs Sprake said: “In the Netherlands they said they’re not going to socially distance the children but teachers will stay two metres apart from everyone else.

“These are things Welsh Government should be getting in place now ready for September.”

In the latest survey conducted by Public Health Wales, almost half (46%) of people were very or extremely concerned about children catching Covid-19 in schools and spreading it within their families and communities.

It also revealed the proportion of people worrying about their mental health and wellbeing reduced from 22% last week to just 12% this – but children were not  included in the survey.

Welsh schools reopened this week – but in a very alien environment to the places children left in March.

Us For Them Cymru believe the cautious approach being taken by Welsh Government is disproportionate to the risks to kids’ mental health.

The Leader:

Emilie Jenkins, 13, is missing school and her friends

Flintshire parent Louise Jenkins said teenage daughter Emilie, a pupil at St David’s High School in Saltney, is also suffering because of isolation from her friends.

Mrs Jenkins said: “She came back from school this week with a smile on her face and I see how important it is for her.

“I emailed education minister Kirsty Williams and said we have to coexist because it’s just not fair.

“English schools go back in September, Scottish schools will and in Northern Ireland with social distancing.

“In five years Welsh children will be competing with those from the other three nations for university places.”

The Leader:

Louise Jenkins

Mrs Jenkins said academically bright Emilie, 13, misses her passion of dancing which she did five nights a week, so reopening school fully in September could be a lifeline.

She added: “She’s been stuck in with adults for the last 12 weeks and is a lot more sedentary than she ever was.

“She’s got a good social circle but not having any contact since March has had an effect on her.

“I can see it’s getting harder and harder to get her up in the morning and I know she’s up all hours.

“The people making these decisions have the luxury of a full education.

“Why don’t they just say schools will be open and those who are frightened can do a blended education (part online, part within school).

“Those like me can send their children to school.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Wales is the only UK nation where all pupils have been given the opportunity to attend school before summer holidays, to see teachers and classmates and to ‘check in, catch up and prepare’ for summer and September.

“As we have seen this week, thousands of children across Wales have already returned to school.

“As the Education Minister made clear, she will announce how schools will operate in September once a decision has been made based on the latest health and scientific advice to help keep Wales safe.”