National Mourning - Education in Wales message

The following information was published in a Special Edition of the ADDYSG CYMRU | EDUCATION WALES Dysg Newsletter (09 September 2022)

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It is with sadness that Buckingham Palace announced the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

We have now entered a period of national mourning that will continue until the end of the State Funeral. Guidance providing the public, businesses and institutions with advice on the period of national mourning following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been issued on the Welsh Government website.

Once details of the funeral are confirmed by the Royal Household, we will write to you with further guidance and information.

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Schools and Further Education settings should remain open. Whilst normal attendance is expected, headteachers continue to have the power to authorise leaves of absence for pupils in exceptional circumstances. Any requests for leave of absence should be considered on a case-by-case basis taking into account individual circumstances.

For childcare and early years providers, including Flying Start childcare, there is no obligation for settings to observe particular behaviours or close during the mourning period. Depending on the nature and location of your setting and the tone of planned events, some settings may wish to consider not holding or postponing events.

For higher education, as autonomous institutions, it is for them to decide how to mark the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and whether to remain open for the period of national mourning. Providers should ensure that they communicate clearly to students and staff about arrangements during the national mourning period.

Education and childcare settings may want to consider conducting special activities, holding assemblies or adapting planned lessons to reflect the period of national mourning and commemorate the life of Her Majesty and may wish to repurpose the lesson materials about the Queen’s Jubilee produced by Royal Collections Trust and The National Archives.

If children and young people are upset, Hwb is a source of information to support children and young people to manage death and loss.

Education and childcare settings wishing to pay their respects by flying any flags at half-mast or holding silences should follow the guidance.

You can also visit the Palace’s website for more information about the mourning period: www.royal.uk.

We know teachers, lecturers, childcare and early years colleagues around the country have an important role to play in reassuring children and young people at this difficult time.

Dysg is the official education e-newsletter from Welsh Government. Dysg aims to provide updates and developments on education and training sectors in Wales.

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