Learning from home after break
Perth and Kinross schools will only be open for vulnerable children and the children of key workers from January 7.
All pupils were originally due to return to school after the festive break on that date.
Although having previously said schools would remain open – even when tier four restrictions were put in place – the Scottish Government made the revised judgement at the weekend following the spread of a Covid variant said to be up to 70 per cent more transmissible than other strains.
And, following the update by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Saturday, the majority of pupils are now being asked to stay at home.
From January 11, Perth and Kinross pupils will be taught online until at least January 18.
The region’s schools are rapidly putting plans in place following the weekend revelation.
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: “Following on from the First Minister’s announcement, we can confirm that all school staff should return to their place of work on Thursday, January 7, as planned.
“From Thursday, January 7, our schools will be open for the children of key workers and those from vulnerable families.”
Further information on all other arrangements for schools was still being set out earlier this week – including clarification about the definition of key workers.
The current school terms drew to a close on Wednesday this week and all pupils and staff were being asked to attend as normal until then.
Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers convenes PKC’s lifelong learning committee.
She said: “The news last weekend is a very stark reminder of the ongoing risks to public health presented by Covid-19.
“I would like to thank all our staff in schools and at education and children’s services for all their rapid work to get us ready for the first week in term when pupils will be learning remotely.
“This is a huge undertaking but I know our schools have plans in place.
“The council IT teams have been working so hard to plan for just this scenario and schools are making sure equipment and data packages are available to support home learning.
“This is a very different situation to March earlier this year where everything happened so quickly.
“Once again I place on record thanks to all head teachers and their staff for ensuring our children and young people are well supported at this unsettling time for us all but especially for children.
“I know as a parent the challenges this will present juggling working at home with supporting home learning. I sincerely hope the actions taken by Government will ensure these measures are only required for a short time.”
As well as the tightening of restrictions that were due to have been eased over the festive period, the First Minister also announced that the whole of mainland Scotland was to enter tier four lockdown levels from Boxing Day.
The move comes as a new strain of Covid, said to be highly infectious, is understood to be behind a massive spike in case numbers in the south of England and has also been discovered in Scotland.
The First Minister said: “Last week it was confirmed that a new variant of the virus had been identified in the UK, and I advised parliament that a small number of cases of it had already been identified in Scotland.
“While further analysis is required to establish this one way or another, we already have a concern that this strain may be driving what appears to be faster transmission in some hospitals and care homes.
“That’s why we have decided to act and to act firmly.
She went on to stress residents have been urged to stay at home this Christmas and only meet up on Christmas Day within their household bubble to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Ms Sturgeon added: “My message is stay home, stay safe and enjoy Christmas. That is in your own interest and the interest of everyone you love.”