Scottish pupils told to prepare for full time return to school in August
Schools will be able to reopen to all pupils from August 11 so long as the spread of coronavirus “is sufficiently low"
Scottish pupils could be going back to school on a full time basis from August.
In the route map out of lockdown published by the Scottish Government, plans were drawn up for a “blended model” of learning - with pupils attending classes for some of the week and learning from home the rest of the time.
But at Holyrood on Tuesday Education Secretary John Swinney told MSPs schools will be able to reopen to all pupils from August 11 so long as the spread of coronavirus “is sufficiently low to provide assurance that we can continue to control the virus”.
Blended learning will be the Scottish Government's “contingency” if it is deemed unsafe for schools to reopen without social distancing.
Mr Swinney said: “Since May, because of the efforts of our fellow citizens to stay at home, we have seen Scotland make significant progress.
“There are now only around 2,000 infectious people in Scotland - a reduction of around 90% since May.
“There has been a sustained downward trend in Covid-19 deaths. Intensive care cases now stand at a fraction of what they were.
“If we stay on this trajectory - which cannot be taken for granted - by August the position will be even better.”
He added: If we stay on track, if we all continue to do what is right and if we can further suppress this terrible virus, the Government believes that we should prepare for children to be able to return to school full time in August.
“I must stress, this is the aim that the Government is now working towards.
“However, because it has to be achieved safely, it inevitably remains conditional and dependent upon ongoing scientific and health advice.”
Mr Swinney added that in May he “frankly could not have imagined that we would be where we are now”.
While the plan is now to bring forward full time schooling, he said that planning for blended learning should continue in case it is necessary if the virus sees a resurgence.
Three criteria will need to be met for the return of full-time schooling, the Education Secretary said.
Infection rates must be “sufficiently low” to ensure the virus can be controlled, full use of local health infrastructure must be available and protections and risk assessments to protect those with underlying health conditions must be put in place.
Mr Swinney said £100 million will be invested over the next two years to tackle the effects of coronavirus on schooling.
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