Further update on schools’ return expected

AN update on the next stage of the phased return of schools is expected to be given by the first minister today.

Pupils in P1-3 returned to classrooms last Monday, as well as children in nursery and secondary school pupils who need to attend for practical coursework.

However, the next phase is expected to begin from March 15, with P4-7 returning. This phase is also expected to involve allowing more senior secondary pupils back in the classroom for at least part of their learning. All going to plan, the final phase will take place on April 5, with all secondary pupils returning.

It is expected Nicola Sturgeon will outline more details on the phases in her update to the Scottish Parliament today.

Scotland’s national clinical director Jason Leitch said he was confident the next phase would go ahead as planned.

Despite his confidence, Mr Leitch admitted the full return of secondary schools might be “trickier” given the challenges with social distancing.

He added: “S1 to S3 is trickier because that would fill the secondary schools and filling the secondary schools with no distancing is another layer of risk.

“Now we did that before and that will be one of the assessments we make in the modelling and data we do this week and next.”

The Scottish Conservatives, however, have called for all pupils to return on March 15 – arguing it’s “simply not good enough” that pupils have missed four months of classroom learning.

Despite the phased reopening of schools aiming to get all pupils back from April 5, it won’t be until the middle of the month until all Tayside and Fife pupils return.

The Easter holidays mean youngsters in Dundee, Angus and Perthshire will return to secondary schools on April 19 and to Fife high schools on April 12.

Education secretary John Swinney confirmed the planned Easter holiday dates would not change.