PARENTS voiced their anger over the handling of the reopening of schools as cases are rising across North Wales.

The Welsh Government came under fire after giving schools the option to reopen before January 18, with some parents in Conwy saying they would refuse to send their children in.

Headteachers' union NAHT Cymru, which represents more than 29,000 leaders in early years, primary, secondary and special education, also opposed the plans due to concerns over staff welfare.

However on Monday night education minister Kirsty Williams scrapped the plans as she said the risk of spreading coronavirus was “very serious,” adding that while schools are “safe and secure” they can lead to “wider social mixing” outside school premises.

All schools, colleges and independent schools will move to online learning for the opening two weeks of term and remain open for children of critical workers.

NAHT Cymru said this decision has been “inevitable for some time”.

“Work should be undertaken with school leaders and Public Health Wales to establish and agree new Covid-related safety measures in schools during the temporary restriction for implementation in good time prior to lifting restrictions,” said director Laura Doel.

“There needs to focus on vaccinating staff so that further disruption to teaching and learning can be ruled out.”

NHS nurse Collette McGovern was among parents in Conwy calling for an entirely new plan for reopening schools having “seen the pressure first-hand”.

“It is so sad how the government blames the public but makes stupid decisions on opening schools,” she said. “We saw a massive increase in cases when schools went back last time.

“If [my son] has a case in his year, he has to isolate and then it impacts on my work because I have to isolate, which means another sickness in the NHS.”

Dad Joy Collins said: “I’d rather not send mine back until least February as numbers are going to rise in the next week. I’m isolating for an operation so mine will be staying home until I consider it safe for them to go back.”

Mum Toria Westwood, whose husband has an auto-immune disease, said her children cannot back to school yet because the risk is too great.

“Mine won’t be returning simply because however small the risk it is not worth it,” she said.

“The mental health impact from the fear of catching this is far worse than not seeing friends

Andy Niccolson said he will not send his daughter back until they have both been vaccinated.

“I received my shielding notice from the Welsh Government on Saturday morning,” he said. “My daughter is in year eight and I will definitely not be sending her back until we have both had our vaccinations.”

And Jacqueline Morris said: “My daughter is in her last year at school but I have received a letter from the government to shield again as I’m vulnerable person.

“I have decided not to send her back to school until I feel it’s safe to do so.

“It’s a scary world out there at the moment and I’m not having any part of it.”