As the start of the school term in Wales beckons, in what feels like an especially tough lockdown, let’s be a people who show grace and commit ourselves to prayer.

Among the many buzzwords that have become part of our now common ‘COVID-language’, words such as postponed or cancelled have been consistent in reminding us of how unrelentingly frustrating the pandemic has been and, unfortunately, continues to be for many of Wales’ key industries. There is no doubt that the cancellations and postponements have placed an enormous strain on both the arts and the hospitality sectors, for example. The public’s opinions on the reopening, or indeed, the delayed reopening of schools, however, are much more varied.

For some people, the start of the school term normally signifies somewhat of a shift back to a more manageable routine, where parents can perhaps more easily balance their work and home lives, and children can again see their friends in person. 

For other parents, and for the children themselves, the prospect of re-entering classrooms full of other people during a particularly challenging period amid the pandemic, is incredibly daunting. Owning a computer is a privilege, and for some families who have no or limited access to a device, online learning is simply not possible. 

In some instances, home is not a safe environment for the children, while for those with additional learning needs, not being able to leave the house means that they don’t have access to the additional care they require. Whatever the setting may be, I’m sure that everybody would agree that during this lockdown, people are tired and people need grace. 

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