A letter from Denbighshire was sent to parents by email on 18/12/20. The letter stated:
As you may have already seen in the media a common approach has been agreed by the Welsh Government and the Welsh Local Government Association for the return to school in January.
With transmission levels continuing to increase across Wales, and uncertainty over what impact that might have on school staffing levels following the Christmas break, schools and local authorities will have some flexibility built in at the beginning of term.
Following guidance from the Welsh Government and discussions with schools, Denbighshire County Council is informing parents and guardians that remote learning will be in place during the first week of the new term, the week beginning January 4th, 2021. A decision whether face to face learning can start on January 11th will be taken during the first week once the full extent of the predicted increase in confirmed cases is known.
At Ysgol Y Faenol, the new school term will start remotely on 5th January, as the 4th of January is a Staff Training Day. Little Lambs Fun Club will be open as usual on Monday 4th January.
On Tuesday 5th, Wednesday 6th, Thursday 7th and Friday 8th January school will, therefore be closed to all children, except those of essential workers and vulnerable children.
Although school is closed to most pupils on these dates the teachers will be setting work for pupils to do remotely. Learning activities will be set via: -
Completed activities can be shared with the teacher either on the hwb class pages or via seesaw.
Teachers will be starting each day with a short online drop in session at 9.15 a.m. to talk to the pupils about the activities set for the day. Pupils will be able to join this session through Microsoft Teams, which is available through their hwb accounts. A guide for how to log on was emailed to parents on 18/12/20.
The emergency childcare hub will be open to registered pupils of Ysgol Y Faenol, who are vulnerable or whose parents meet the criteria for essential workers. Please consider carefully if any alternative is available before using the school-based provision. Keeping children safely in their home to protect themselves and those more vulnerable to the illness is the preferred and safest option. In the main where there is only one critical worker in the family, there is an expectation that the other parent takes responsibility for childcare.
Ysgolion cynradd yn Sir Ddinbych i gau
Yn dilyn trafodaeth gyda'i holl ysgolion, mae Cyngor Sir Ddinbych wedi penderfynu cau ei holl ysgolion cynradd, ysgolion arbennig ac unedau cyfeirio o ddydd Mercher (16 Rhagfyr) ar gyfer dysgu wyneb yn wyneb.
Mae hyn yn dilyn penderfyniad Llywodraeth Cymru i symud pob ysgol uwchradd a choleg yng Nghymru i ddysgu ar-lein o ddydd Llun (14 Rhagfyr).
Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Aelod Arweiniol y Cyngor dros Addysg, Gwasanaethau Plant ac Ymgysylltu â'r Cyhoedd: "Rydym wedi gwneud y penderfyniad i gau ein hysgolion cynradd ar gyfer dysgu wyneb yn wyneb yn gynnar. Mae achosion wedi’u cadarnhau sy'n gysylltiedig ag ysgolion Sir Ddinbych yn parhau i fod mewn ffigurau sengl oherwydd gwaith caled disgyblion, rhieni a staff.
"Gydag ysgolion cynradd yn cau ar draws Gogledd Cymru, teimlai'r Cyngor nad oedd ganddo ddewis ond gwneud y penderfyniad i ddarparu dilyniant gydag ardaloedd eraill, gan roi digon o rybudd i rieni a gwarcheidwaid baratoi a sicrhau diogelwch plant a staff ymhellach yn y cyfnod cyn y Nadolig.
"Bydd ysgolion cynradd yn aros ar agor i ddysgwyr bregus a phlant gweithwyr allweddol tan ddydd Gwener, 18 Rhagfyr."
Cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru y penderfyniad i symud pob ysgol uwchradd a choleg yng Nghymru i ddysgu ar-lein fel rhan o 'ymdrech genedlaethol i leihau trosglwyddo coronafeirws' yn dilyn cyngor gan Brif Swyddog Meddygol Cymru.
Ychwanegodd y Cynghorydd Huw Hilditch-Roberts: "Wrth i ni nesáu at y Nadolig a diwedd y tymor rwyf am ddiolch i'r holl ddisgyblion, staff a theuluoedd am eu cefnogaeth a'u hymdrech yn y frwydr yn erbyn COVID-19.
"Bydd ysgolion cynradd, ysgolion arbennig, unedau cyfeirio disgyblion ac ysgolion uwchradd y sir yn trefnu dysgu o bell i ddisgyblion tan 18 Rhagfyr ac i adleisio geiriau'r Gweinidog Addysg, nid yw'r cyfnod hwn yn wyliau Nadolig cynnar.
"Mae'r Nadolig yn gyfnod o gyffro a llawenydd mawr i'n myfyrwyr ond mae hefyd yn amser pan fydd y demtasiwn i grwydro o'r rheolau llym y gofynnwyd i ni eu dilyn fod yn uwch nag erioed. Mae'n bwysig i bawb sydd wedi gweithio'n ddiflino i fwynhau gwyliau Nadolig hapus ac ein bod yn parhau i gadw at y rheolau fel y gwn fod cynifer ohonoch wedi'i wneud.
"Hoffwn unwaith eto i ddisgyblion, rhieni a staff am eu cefnogaeth yn ystod tymor hynod heriol i'n holl ysgolion a'r cymunedau y maent yn eu cefnogi ac yn gweithio ynddynt."
Primary schools to close in Denbighshire
Following discussion with all of its schools, Denbighshire County Council has taken the decision to close all of its primary schools, special schools and pupil referral units from Wednesday (December 16) for face to face learning.
This follows the Welsh Government decision to move all secondary schools and colleges in Wales to online learning from Monday (December 14).
Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children's Services and Public Engagement, said: “We have reluctantly taken the decision to close our primary schools for face to face learning early. Confirmed cases associated with Denbighshire schools continue to be in single figures owing to the hard work of pupils, parents and staff.
“With primary schools closing across North Wales, the Council felt it had no choice but to take the decision to provide continuity with other areas, giving parents and guardians sufficient notice to prepare and to further ensure the safety of children and staff in the run up to Christmas.
“Primary schools will remain open for vulnerable learners and the children of key workers until Friday, December 18.”
The Welsh Government announced the decision to move all secondary schools and colleges in Wales to online learning as part of a ‘national effort to reduce transmission of coronavirus’ following advice from Wales’s Chief Medical Officer.
Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts added: “As we approach Christmas and the end of term I want to thank all pupils, staff and families for their support and their effort in the fight against COVID-19.
“Primary schools, special schools, pupil referral units and secondary schools in the county will be arranging remote learning for pupils until December 18 and to echo the words of the Education Minister, this period is not an early Christmas holiday.
“Christmas is a time of great excitement and joy for our students but it is also a time when the temptation to stray from the strict rules we have been asked to follow may be higher than ever. It is important for everyone who has worked tirelessly to enjoy a happy Christmas holiday that we continue to observe the rules as I know so many of you have.
“I would again like to thank pupils, parents and staff for their support during what has been a hugely challenging term for all of our schools and the communities they support and work in.”