Some 95 per cent of teachers in a Scottish survey want evidence that Covid-19 infection is under control and that schools are safe places before they reopen in any way.

In the survey of 26,000 teachers, nearly two-thirds said they believed that the biggest barrier to home learning was lack of access to technology.

As well as myriad concerns, the initial findings of the survey -carried out by Scotland’s biggest teaching union, the EIS -highlight successes in how education has dealt with the coronavirus pandemic.

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The Scottish government is due to make an announcement on schools tomorrow, amid reports that teachers could return in June and pupils - beyond the small number already in schools - could be back in time for a new school year, perhaps starting at an earlier than usual point in August.

Coronavirus: Safety fears about reopening schools

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The EIS survey findings illustrate the hard work that teachers and other education staff have put in to support young people during the lockdown. The findings also highlight the many challenges that education will continue to face for the foreseeable future.

“Teachers remain concerned by the prospect of schools potentially reopening before it is safe to do so, and strongly agree with the need for suitable protections to be put in place prior to any reopening of schools.”

Some 95 per cent of teachers responding to the survey agreed with the conditions that the EIS has said must be met before schools can safely reopen, with 69 per cent “strongly agreeing” with the union’s red lines. These include an “established capacity” to “test, trace and isolate”, effective implementation of all health and safety guidelines - such as social distancing in schools - and evidence that Covid-19 infection is under control and that schools are safe places in which to teach and learn.

In terms of the current hubs used by a small minority of pupils, 88 per cent of respondents said the childcare and education for children of key workers was the most successful aspect.

On distance teaching and learning, 64 per cent identified the lack of access to technology at home as the key barrier for many children.

Mr Flanagan said: “Whilst the support for key workers is to be applauded, it is worrying that so many vulnerable children appear not be using the hub provision, as those children are also those most likely to suffer from the digital poverty cited as a barrier to accessing remote teaching.

“Looking ahead to when schools reopen, there is an even more pressing need than normal to address the impact of poverty on children’s education.”

Sample comments from teachers in the EIS survey on a potential reopening of Scotland’s schools

• “As a person ‘at risk’, I’m not sure I could feel safe in a school with over 1,000 pupils. Hundreds of pupils touching desks and using the same equipment that I interact with. A scary and daunting thought.”
• “I don’t think schools should reopen until we know where the infection is, and we have a complete overhaul of safety measures, ensuring cleaning, PPE [personal protective equipment] and social distancing are workable.”
• “Testing has to be regular and not just once, as anyone can catch the virus at any time. It’s not safe to return anyone to school if they have not been tested. You are gambling people’s lives and too many have lost their lives already. School is meant to be a SAFE haven.”
• “Although children do not seem to be badly hit by the virus, they are still going to be mixing closely with each other and going home to their families, potentially spreading the virus and leading to more outbreaks and potential deaths. Our children should not be turned into guinea pigs just so that industry can restart. They have been scared and traumatised by this virus - they need to be returning to schools that feel ‘normal’ and secure.”
• “I think social distancing is going to be very hard to manage in schools.”