Wrexham Council facing difficulties getting special needs children to school due to social distancing requirements

Wrexham Council says it has encountered difficulties getting children with special needs to school due to social distancing requirements.

Education and transport officers at Wrexham Council were able to make arrangements for the majority of pupils who travel by bus for this month’s catch-up sessions.

However, a senior officer said sorting taxis and adapted vehicles for youngsters with special educational needs had not been possible due to the requirement for people to remain two metres apart.

The local authority’s outgoing chief education officer Ian Roberts highlighted how many pupils with special needs require chaperones, making social distancing rules hard to follow.

He said the council was looking to address the issue ahead of a planned return for all schoolchildren in September, with updated guidance expected from the Welsh Government.

Speaking at an executive board meeting held this week, Mr Roberts said: “There has been some difficulty up to now where social distancing has required a two metre distance for the smaller taxis, and especially the most vulnerable learners, where they need an escort.

“We’re understanding from Welsh Government now that the two metre rule is no longer applicable for younger children.
“But we need to pay cognisance to the announcements, whatever they may be in respect of the wearing of face masks to ensure that they’re in place.

“What I would say is we’re probably going to need to keep an eye on this and ask Darren (Williams – chief environment officer) through his department to provide ongoing updates to the executive board and members on this.”
During the virtual meeting, members of the ruling independent/Conservative administration discussed a report on how schools are responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

The introduction of lockdown measures in March to stop the spread of COVID-19 meant most schools in the county borough were only open to the children of key workers and those considered to be vulnerable.

A partial reopening has taken place this month as part of the Welsh Government’s plans for pupils to “check in, catch up and prepare” for the next school year.

Ministers have issued guidance in respect of how schools will be run from September.

Mr Roberts said the council was still awaiting advice on whether face masks would need to be worn by taxi drivers taking youngsters to school.

Speaking on Tuesday, he said: “Over the border in England they released their guidance yesterday in respect of school transport and we’re expecting Welsh Government to be announcing theirs this week.

“If the requirement within that operating guidance is that taxi drivers will be required to wear face masks, we will be expecting the contractors to provide their employees with those face masks.

“We will be keeping a very careful eye on what the operating guidance is and the integrated transport unit will then work with contractors to ensure compliance with that requirement.”

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter