More details about the reopening of schools in Scotland are due to be revealed by the Scottish government on Thursday, it emerged this afternoon.
However, other lockdown measures will be eased first - starting no earlier than 28 May - and it is only after this point that pupils might start returning to school, beyond the small number that has continued to attend over the past two months.
Meanwhile, MSPs called today for the scientific modelling behind decisions on when children can go back to school to be published by the Scottish government.
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There has been huge controversy in England about pupils returning to school from 1 June. Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she will not take a “cavalier” approach to reopening schools, and, with many Scottish schools’ summer holidays starting at the end of June - in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest local authority, schools break up at 1pm on Wednesday 24 June - there is little time for pupils to return.
Coronavirus: When will schools in Scotland reopen?
At her daily briefing, Ms Sturgeon said: “I can confirm today that we will publish on Thursday a route map setting out a phased approach to easing lockdown measures.”
She added that it would “give a more detailed indication of the order in which we will carefully and gradually seek to lift current restrictions”, but that “like other countries, we will not yet be able to put firm dates on all of the different phases, because timings must be driven by data and evidence”.
The first minister said that, “assuming that we see progress in suppressing the virus”, the first phase of easing lockdown will start from Thursday 28 May.
She said: “Within a few days of that, we will aim to allow, for example, more outdoor activities, such as being able to sit in the park, meet up outdoors with someone from another household - as long as you stay socially distanced - some limited outdoor sporting activities like golf and fishing, the opening of garden centres and recycling facilities, and the resumption of some outdoor work.
“This first phase will coincide with our ability to start, on a phased basis, a substantial ‘test, trace and isolate’ operation to help us keep the virus under control as we start to ease up these restrictions, and that part is absolutely crucial.
“Thursday’s route map will also set out our up-to-date assessment at that point of a phased return to school, as guided by the considerations of the [government’s] education recovery group.”
In a letter to education secretary and deputy first minister John Swinney today, the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee sought more information about the process in deciding when pupils should return to school.
The letter, from committee convener Clare Adamson, states: “You referred to scientific advice in your answers to this committee [on 6 May], including from Imperial College London. I am aware that you also answered questions on scientific advice from the Covid-19 Committee when you appeared before them in your capacity as deputy first minister. Given the importance placed on specific pieces of scientific advice to guide key decisions, such as how long to keep schools and early learning settings closed, this committee considers this scientific advice should be published.”
