The Vale of Glamorgan Council intends for schools in Cowbridge and the rest of the county to re-open from Wednesday 6 January onwards, but says it is "not able to predict what the situation will be on 4 January".

A letter from Paula Ham, Director of Learning and Skills at the VOG Council, says that schools will use Monday 4 January and Tuesday 5 January to complete risk assessments "to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all learners when they return".

This reflects the current national stance that Welsh schools are being given a flexible approach to return to in-person teaching, after moving to online learning the week before Christmas holidays.

The letter reads: "During these two days, schools will be closed to all learners. From Wednesday 6th January, I am hoping that schools will be able to safely re-open for face-to-face teaching, subject to appropriate staffing levels and risk assessments.

"If schools are unable to safely re-open, or can only partially re-open, children will be able to access remote learning until such time that they are able to return to school.

"In the event schools are unable to reopen by the 6th of January, we will continue to offer support for our critical worker families within the following groups:

• Blue light workers, including NHS, Police and Fire Service staff
• Health and Social care staff, including care workers
• Front line childcare or education staff

"Access to this provision should continue to be seen as a last resort in order to ensure that we mitigate all risks and keep everyone safe and only if there are no alternative arrangements possible.

"The national picture with regard to COVID-19 continues to change at an incredible pace. Headteachers will write to you as soon as they possibly can at the beginning of term to let you know the individual arrangements for their schools."

A statement from the Welsh Local Government Association said its expectation is that schools will be providing face-to-face learning for the majority of pupils by 11 January, leading to a full return by 18 January.

A WLGA spokesperson said: "The plan to return to schools in January will give some certainty, whilst also allowing for flexibility to take account of local circumstances.

"Teachers, school staff, learners, and parents and carers' response has been remarkable throughout this challenging year. It has not been easy, and we thank them for their continued patience and perseverance to help keep our communities safe.

"To help curb the rapid spread of the virus, we must all continue to do all we can to protect ourselves, each other and our communities."

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "We all recognise that these are unprecedented times and that we have to be agile in how we respond to the impact the virus has on our communities.

"By agreeing to a flexible approach during the first two weeks of the new school term in January enables our schools to put in place proportionate arrangements which reflect their specific circumstances and is guided by public health and safety considerations.

"We know from our children and young people that they learn best when in the classroom receiving face to face learning so any measures we put in place must look to minimise further disruption to their education."