Schools move to blended learning from Monday

But they will remain open until December 18 for pupils up to and including Year 8 whose parents or carers are key workers and for vulnerable learners should they wish to attend.

Primary and secondary schools will be providing online teaching for pupils who are home and arrangements will be in place to ensure that those that qualify for a free school meal receive a payment or food bag as soon as possible.

The Welsh Government said while schools remain safe and secure environments general coronavirus rates in Wales were increasing daily.

Parents are being urged to ensure that children not in school stay at home and minimise contact with others.

Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart said: “Our schools have done an outstanding job in keeping education going this term while also ensuring that the school environment is as safe as it possibly can be.

“Throughout the pandemic we have closely followed Welsh Government and public health advice and we always said that we were keeping the situation under constant review.

“What is now absolutely vitally important is that children not in school do not go out meeting up with groups of friends but stay at home and minimise contact.

“Swansea already has one of the highest coronavirus rates in Wales and if young people are out and mixing freely it will only make matters worse.”

Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Learning and Skills, Jennifer Raynor added: “I would again like to place on record my sincere gratitude to headteachers in Swansea and their staff for keeping schools running safely and securely throughout this incredibly difficult year.

“They are keeping schools open again next week for children’s whose parents are key workers so that vital services are not impacted.”