Only youngest pupils in Scotland to return to school on 22 February

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that the majority of primary and secondary school pupils will continue with remote learning until at least mid-March, while children in early learning and childcare (ELC) and primaries 1 to 3 will return full-time to classrooms from Monday 22 February.

Limited numbers of S4 - S6 pupils who require to complete practical work in order to achieve an SQA certificate will also return from Monday. Pupils currently in classrooms – primarily the children of key workers and those considered vulnerable – will retain their places.

There will be additional funding to support the safe return including a further £40 million to help councils implement safety mitigations aligned with clinical advice. There will be £60m of additional investment in education recovery, including employing more teachers, classroom support staff and facilities management.

What's more, twice weekly at-home testing to be offered to people who work in schools, early learning and childcare settings attached to schools, and senior phase pupils.

All secondary pupils will be required to observe two metre physical distancing while in school and on school transport in the period immediately after the return. This is in addition to existing measures including the use of face coverings

Further detail on the next phase of school return could be provided on 2 March, it is hoped.