IT is expected that Powys children will continue to be taught online for many weeks if not months to come.

While preparations in England are being made for a return of some classes in June – it is highly likely that children in Powys and the rest of Wales will not be going back to school until September.

The Learning and Skills scrutiny committee met on Wednesday, May 13, to discuss the work being done by Powys County Council’s Education (PCC) service.

At the moment PCC is running 14 emergency childcare hubs in schools with two special schools, Ysgol Cedewain in Newtown and Ysgol Penmaes in Brecon, working as emergency childcare specialist hubs.

To prepare for an extended period of online learning, PCC has already adapted the Welsh Government continuity of learning plan and produced it’s own document for schools, ‘Powys Distance Learning Plan’.

This gives schools guidance and helps share good practice between them.

Learning and Skills scrutiny committee chairman, Cllr Pete Roberts (Liberal Democrat – Llandrindod South) said that he expected the plan to be followed “for at least the next six weeks if not the entirety of this term.”

Interim chief education officer, Lynette Lovell said: “The continuity of learning plan is going to be on our radar for some time.

“Even in September I don’t think everyone will be back in schools.”

She added that this was the department’s “key focus” at the moment.

Ms Lovell, said: “It is likely and we have to think about the hubs continuing throughout the summer holiday period.

“We have a group of officers and headteacher meeting to look at the plan towards recovery.”

She added that it was expected to see numbers of children using the emergency childcare hubs rise.

Ms Lovell explained that this is partly due to the work being done to make sure vulnerable children are accessing the hubs, and as more people go back to work, they will need to access childcare.

Ms Lovell told the members that she was not expecting parents to “be teachers.”

Ms Lovell, said: “Some parents feel that the work provided by school has been too much and others that it’s too little.

“Our main priority at this time is about people being safe and well.”

Cllr Bryn Davies, (Plaid Cymru – Llanwddyn), said:  “We need to approach the Welsh Government and tell them how vital broadband is throughout the country.

“The last two months has demonstrated how absolutely essential it is.

“It is a utility not a luxury.”

Education portfolio holder, Cllr Phyl Davies, (Conservative – Blaen Hafren), said: “In an unprecedented time, we should be proud of the work we’ve done and we are ahead of some counties by a big margin on this.”