All Anglesey schools plan to welcome pupils back to their classrooms on Monday, January 11th 2021 if safe to do so.

Schools will contact parents / carers with specific information regarding planned INSET days, distance learning arrangements and care for vulnerable children and children of key workers during the week of January 4th.

Coronavirus transmission levels are continuing to increase across Wales, and as a result there is uncertainty over what impact that might have on school staffing levels over the Christmas break.

The Welsh Government and Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) have therefore agreed that local authorities will be given flexibility in terms of arrangements for the beginning of next term.

All Anglesey arrangements have been discussed and agreed with head teachers.

Anglesey Council’s Director of Education, Skills and Young People, Rhys H Hughes, explained, “Minimising the disruption to our children and young people’s education remains our priority in the face of Coronavirus.”

“Face-to-face learning will resume at all Anglesey schools from Monday, January 11th - unless there are clear public health and safety reasons not to. The current situation on Anglesey remains fragile and if positive Coronavirus cases increase then we will look to continue with distance learning arrangements for pupils.”

“Confirming our arrangements and the agreed return date of Monday, January 11th 2021 will provide parents, teachers and school staff with certainty ahead of the Christmas and New Year break.”

Welsh Government and WLGA expect a full return to learning across Wales by January 18th at the latest.

Households are urged to carry on follow Coronavirus guidance to ensure they keep themselves, family and friends safe over Christmas and New Year. We all have a responsibility to keep each other safe and can’t let our guard down now.

Welsh Government Coronavirus guidance and updates can be found here: https://gov.wales/coronavirus

Education portfolio holder, Councillor Meirion Jones, thanked schools for their tremendous work throughout the year.

He added, “We greatly appreciate the professionalism and resilience of our teachers and school staff in providing so much more than education during these extremely challenging times.”