Written question WQ84290
- Asked by
- Mabon ap GwynforPlaid
- To be answered by
- Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 11 days
Question
What financial support is available to those caring for children who are learning from home due to instructions from school or class closures for a period, but don't suffer from COVID and do not, therefore, have a positive PCR in order to claim help from the support scheme or similar?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
I continue to be grateful for the efforts being made by our parents, children and schools across Wales to do all they can to prevent disruption to face to face learning.
Schools should only move to remote learning as a consequence of Covid, when it is absolutely necessary and this should be for the shortest time possible.
In these circumstances we would also expect consideration to be given to making available onsite provision for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers.
There will be occasions where parents and carers may have to make alternative arrangements at short notice for their children this includes their child being ill and their child’s class or school having to close in response to specific circumstances beyond the schools control, including Covid. I recognise, however, that anytime away from school does have an impact not only on the learner but on those caring for children too. That is why as a Government we have continued to urge employers to be flexible in supporting parents or those required to care for children who are required to learn from home in response to a Covid-related matter at school.
This might take the form of paid special leave or agreeing flexible working instead of taking longer periods of time off, for example working from home or changing working hours to allow for childcare.
Individuals may wish to contact ACAS to explore further options around employer support.
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