Coronavirus: Details revealed for some schools' return
- Published
Edinburgh and Aberdeen councils have revealed details of their plans to get pupils back to school in August.
Both councils said they intended for one third of pupils to be in school buildings at any one time.
In Edinburgh children will be asked to attend for full days between Monday and Thursday. Individual schools will decide which pupils attend when.
Nursery and primary schools will be grouped to ensure that children from the same family attend on the same day.
Secondaries, however, are likely to group pupils by year group.
Start date
Aberdeen City Council has also published its plans for August, external. They include outlines on how schools will manage in school and at-home through reduced class sizes, static class groups and alternate learning rotas.
It also details practical measures such as enhanced cleaning, one-way systems and physical distancing.
It also said much of the detailed planning would be made at an individual school level, with school-specific information promised "as soon as it is available".
Aberdeen schools will start the autumn term on 11 August while Edinburgh pupils will go back a day later. This is a week earlier than originally planned.
Edinburgh City Council said that "in accordance with national guidance", it would ensure social distancing, hygiene regimes and risk assessments to keep staff and children safe.
For all age groups there will be a blended learning approach, with about half of each child's education taking place at home.
The council said limited key worker childcare support will be available for the full school week.
Councils and schools across Scotland are working out the details of what the school day and week may be like in August.
The main reason schools will not be able to take all their pupils in at once is the need for social distancing.
There's no specific guiidance on just how long children will actually be at school for.
Some schools and councils are hoping students will be in for half the normal length of time. Perhaps for two days a week with each day slightly longer than usual. Perhaps for a full week every second week.
Arrangements vary but inconsistencies across the country are developing too. Edinburgh's plan will see children at school for about a third of the normal amount of time.
At least one primary school in Aberdeenshire currently anticipates that each child will be at school for the equivalent of a full week once every three weeks.
Arrangements like these mean there will still be a heavy requirement on parents. To work, employers will need to offer flexible shifts or home working. There will also be demands for childcare.
The big unknown is what the public health advice and guidance on social distancing will be by August.
If it is safe for rules to be relaxed, it may sometimes be possible to have more children in class for longer lengths of time.
Edinburgh's education convener Ian Perry said the past three months had been "very challenging" for everyone.
He added: "This new blended model is an improvement on the current home learning arrangements, and I want to reassure parents that where possible we review, refine and improve our approach so we can maximise the proportion of in-school learning."
His council colleague, education vice-convener Alison Dickie thanked teachers, parents and children for what they had achieved under lockdown.
"Lockdown has also reminded us that learning is wider than just the classroom, and this is an opportunity to realise the full potential of community learning," she said.
"From our youth workers and After School Clubs, to a range of third partners and community organisations, all have a part to play in this recovery process."
- Published9 June 2020
