SCHOOLS in Wales may begin to open from 22nd<\/sup> February if cases continue to fall, first minister Mark Drakeford announced in a press conference today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Confirmation of these plans will come next Friday, but younger primary school pupils will be prioritised, as well as young people studying for vocational qualifications, in a \u201cphased and flexible\u201d return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No significant easing of the national lockdown was announced, though from tomorrow two people from different households will be able to meet up for exercise outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People from single-person households will also now be able to dissolve and reform their support bubbles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking this afternoon, the First Minister said: \u201cI want to say directly to children and young people in Wales that we understand the real difficulty and distress you have experienced this year, being in and out of school, and separated from your friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf infections continue to fall we want to see children able to return to school after half term from 22nd<\/sup> February, starting with the youngest children in our primary schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m confirming this intention today to give as much notice as possible to parents, teachers and pupils, of what we hope will lie ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A week of intensive, \u201csolution-focussed\u201d discussions will take place next week between the government and local education authorities, Drakeford said, culminating in an announcement on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reduced class sizes, split weeks and covid testing will be considered as part of the reopening plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The senior Wales officer at the National Education (NEU) Cymru, Gareth Lloyd, said of these announcements: \u201cWe welcome that Welsh Government want to use any \u2018head room\u2019 created by sustained efforts to suppress the virus, to support the education sector. We have highlighted the need for a range of measures to be put in place – such as smaller class sizes and social distancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “NEU Cymru continues to work with the Welsh Government to try and make any wider return as safe as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We must be mindful that everyone will be apprehensive about a potential rise in the virus levels if we open up too quickly, so a phased approach is welcome, as a safe return is essential.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vaccinating teachers, however, is ruled out for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Welsh Government relies on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation, and then on the advice of our chief medical officer, as to which groups should be at the front of the queue for vaccination,\u201d Mr Drakeford said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf its advice were to change, and it were to put professional groups including teachers at the front of that list, we would follow that advice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n