Back to school on AUGUST 11

Summer holidays could be cut to let pupils return part-time (so that’s just 82 MORE DAYS with the kids at home!)

SCHOOLS in Scotland are expected to return on a part-time basis from August 11.

Under plans by the Scottish Government’s education recovery group, the holidays will be cut short by a week.

Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the proposals are under consideration as she prepares to give an update on school reopening tomorrow.

The First Minister is set to reveal her ‘route map’ out of lockdown this week, with easing of restrictions from May 28.

Boris Johnson has already eased restrictions in England and has pledged to have some youngsters back in school from June 1.

Miss Sturgeon has ruled this out, and it is understood it will be after the summer holidays when children can get back to school. The

Daily Record yesterday revealed Education Secretary John Swinney and his advisory group had drawn up a blueprint, with a likely return to school on August 11.

However, youngsters will return to the classroom part-time with half of the week spent learning at home. Strict social distancing measures will be put in place with staggered start times.

Miss Sturgeon said: ‘When we publish the route map on Thursday we will give our up-to-date view of the phasing of a return of school. But in broad terms it is the kind of thing that is being discussed, but we haven’t made a final decision on that.’

Miss Sturgeon said that while she wants ‘to see children back at school as quickly as possible’ she will reopen schools only when she feels it is safe.

She added: ‘Many of the impacts of detailing with this virus worry me profoundly, but the loss of education or the impact on education is something that I know worries parents and worries me.

‘So we want to get back to school as quickly as possible. We have to do that in a way that is safe, that has the confidence both of parents and of teachers.

‘We’ll set out the up to date position when we publish the document on Thursday.’

Unions have warned against opening schools too early amid safety fears, but concerns have also been raised about the impact ? on learning. They have also said that social distancing will be very difficult in school settings – especially with younger children.

A survey carried out by the EIS teaching union has found that 95 per cent of teachers believe a series of measures must be in place before schools can be reopened.

This includes an established capacity to ‘test, trace and isolate’, effective implementation of all health and safety guidelines such as social distancing in schools, and evidence that Covid-19 infection is under control and that schools are safe places to teach and learn.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: ‘Teachers remain concerned by the prospect of schools potentially reopening before it is safe to do so, and strongly agree with the need for suitable protections to be put in place prior to any reopening.’