Restrictions on schools are expected to be eased with the Welsh Government to give fresh guidance next week.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said education minister Jeremy Miles will reveal “the next steps for schools” next week.
With general restrictions on the public being eased along with a drop in the community infection rate and pressure on the NHS schools are now expected to return to more normality. However existing rules on mask-wearing in school are expected to stay until at least the half-term break next month.
Speaking at Friday's Covid briefing at which he confirmed the move to alert level zero the First Minister said: “Next week the education minister will be here at this podium to set out the next steps for schools.”
Schools have set mitigations against the pandemic at ‘very high risk’ this term on advice from the Welsh Government.
That means contact bubbles are in place, there can be no school assemblies, the operation of staggered start and end times, and no school trips among other restrictions. Some schools started term online and councils have been told to prioritise exam years and vulnerable pupils for face-to-face learning. Staff and secondary pupils are still being asked to take three lateral flow tests each week and report results. GCSE exams have gone ahead but with doors and windows open.
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There have been continued numbers of Covid cases as well as remote learning and self-isolation although the vast majority of children are having in-person lessons. Around one in 10 pupils are not attending and more than one in 10 staff have been off in some areas since the start of term according to official data.
Mask-wearing rules for pupils in English schools were scrapped this week but Mr Drakeford said on Friday that children in Wales would have to wear them until at least the February half-term.
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The First Minister said he had attended a meeting of education officials and union leaders in Wales on Thursday and there was agreement across the board that face coverings should be kept for now.
England’s education secretary Nadhim Zahawi insisted on Thursday that “all schools” should banish face masks so that children can “enjoy a normal experience” in the classroom.
But Mr Drakeford told WalesOnline: “We don’t see a change in the rules on face coverings in schools changing before the February half-term but it is something that is constantly under review.
“We met with local education representatives and unions and the topic was debated and everyone felt if was safer for pupils and staff to continue having that level of protection.
