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Covid: Wales pupils back in school for first time since December

Wales' youngest pupils will สล็อตxo return to the classroom on Monday in the first step towards reopening schools.

Most children have been learning from home since December after a sharp rise in Covid cases.

Children aged three to seven will start a phased return to face-to-face teaching, along with some students on practical college courses.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams said on Sunday she hoped more pupils would return if cases continued falling.

A decision on the return of other primary school children and older pupils is due to be made on 15 March.

Lisa Freeman's four-year-old son Ethan was returning to his reception class at Ysgol Hamadryad in Cardiff on Monday.

'Very difficult'

She said he was "very nervous" and he did not really talk about going back to school, so they had "broached the subject slowly".

"He's struggled with the online lessons," Ms Freeman said.

"I think, as a four-year-old, being sat behind a computer screen has been very difficult for him. He just didn't engage as much as we would have like him to."

Ms Freeman said she was concerned there would be further school closures as it had "very much affected him".

'Little anxious'

Victoria Rosser, from Cwmbran, whose five-year-old son will return on Thursday, said she was not sure if it was the right time for children to return.

"I'm a little anxious as I'm a shielding parent who hasn't received the second vaccine, however, I feel more confident than I did in September," she said.

Ms Rosser, a former teacher, said her son was excited but also "a little nervous" to return to school.

"Even though he's in Year 1, he's only spent just over half a year in school," she said.

"Children of similar age, who haven't had the opportunity to learn at home, could have had changes made to their neuro pathways forever.