Plans under way for phased school return

Perth and Kinross Council has confirmed plans are under way for the phased return of pupils to Perth and Kinross schools from February 22 - subject to Scottish Government guidance.

A spokesperson for PKC said the council expected to hear further information on this later this week, as well as a final decision on February 16.

The council spokesperson said: “We are currently planning for the return of children in our early learning and childcare settings, and for early primary (P1-P3) and senior secondary phase pupils (S4-S6) from February 22, as directed by the Scottish Government.

“We await revised national guidance this week on the safe reopening of schools, and also final confirmation from the Scottish Government whether to proceed with pupils’ return, which is due on Tuesday, February 16.”

Perth and Kinross schools have been open to vulnerable children and key worker children for inschool learning this term.

But they closed on Tuesday, with Wednesday set aside for teacher training and the other two days part of the mid-term break.

The decision to close schools to all pupils for the in-service day and half-term was part of a national approach.

PKC said its plans were in line with other councils across Scotland following guidance from the Scottish Government’s most recent Education Direction Continuity Notice.

The latest Scottish Government notice effective from February 1 to February 17 states: “An education authority is not required to open outwith term time any establishment which would normally be open during term time only.”