Swinney: We’ll try to give parents a fortnight’s notice

PARENTS should have two weeks’ notice before their children return to school, the Education Secretary has said.

John Swinney yesterday said he wanted to give a fortnight’s advance warning – but also cautioned that a shorter notice period might be required.

He stopped short of the pledge from UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who said he would give two weeks’ notice to parents in England.

Mr Swinney said: ‘Ideally I would like to give as much notice and certainty as possible. Ideally I would like to give two weeks’ notice to everybody involved about a return to face-to-face learning.

‘But obviously we may give shorter notice on that if we believe that the opportunity exists for such an approach to be taken.’

Scottish Tory education spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘While we wait for the evidence to show pupils can get back into schools safely, it’s essential that proper planning takes place for their return.

‘Decisions cannot be left to the last minute by the SNP once again. Parents, teachers and pupils need clarity and certainty as soon as possible.’

He added: ‘A commitment to providing a two-week notice period would give parents the certainty to plan childcare in the interim and allow schools to prepare more effectively.

‘Throughout the pandemic, the SNP have delayed decisions on schools, leaving parents and teachers in limbo, when they should have been far more open and upfront about what was going on.’