All city school children back in August

The Education Secretary, John Swinney, announced a full return to school in August for all pupils in Scotland without any need for physical distancing. This is dependant on the continued suppression of the Covid-19 virus.

The City of Edinburgh Council had prepared a plan for blended and digital learning, allowing half of Edinburgh pupils to be taught in school half of the time. This has now become a contingency plan and will only be put in place if the virus reappears anywhere in the city.

Councillors said their inboxes were full with parents' concerns about the plans to reopen schools for only half the number of pupils at any one time, and how this would affect their children.

The council has set out in its Delivery Phasing Plan the steps it might need to take if they had to deliver part time learning or digital learning.

When the plan was drawn up the council had to envisage that only some pupils would return to school to allow 2 metre physical distancing to be put in place.

Edinburgh TUC said they opposed the sudden change in education policy.

A spokesperson said: "While everyone wishes to see schools operating at full capacity again, and whilst both pupils and staff are anxious to move from home working to being back in classes full time, this statement has been made without any consultation with the relevant union memberships and parent associations and risks undermining progress made so far in reducing Covid-19 infections and deaths in Scotland.

"We believe that any return to school should only take place after proper risk assessments and development of safe working procedures, and the fullest consultation with teachers’ and support staff unions and parents."

There are 49,000 pupils in Edinburgh schools.

Education Convener, Cllr Ian

Perry said: "It is a great relief that schools will go back full-time. This threw up difficult issues and now we have more time to address these."

The council has pre-cleaning procedures in place in all schools which have been closed since March. It continues to work closely with NHS Lothian to control any infections, and all schools will also remain vigilant about any pupils and staff developing symptoms of Covid-19.

Council Leader, Adam McVey, said: "It has not been a waste of time to have made preparations for a scenario which has been superceded."