Education Scotland guidance for schools has been publishedÌýfollowing the surprise announcement on Tuesday that all pupils in Scotland would be making at least a partial return to school buildings from 15 March.
Tuesday’sÌýannouncement provedÌýcontroversial and was even describedÌýasÌýthe “worst-case scenario†for schools, with many secondary teachers expressingÌýconcernÌýabout the logistical difficulties of providingÌýa mix of in-school and remote learning for S1-3 students at short notice. Many students in those yearsÌýwere not previously due to returnÌýuntil after theirÌýEaster holidays, in the second half of April.
The newÌý from Education Scotland, which appeared late yesterday,Ìýlargely reflects previously published advice and puts the onus on schools to make key decisions and explain them to families.
It states, for example, that “schools are in the best place to understand how many learners can be accommodated within the school at one timeâ€.ÌýAnd the document concludes by calling on schools toÌý“explain clearly to learners, parents and carers the rationale and detailed practical arrangements for learners across the relevant subject areasâ€.
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Some teachers on social media expressedÌýconcern that the document asks them to “maximise†the number of pupils in school buildings while minimising contacts between pupils.
The document includes seven “key considerationsâ€, includingÌýthat schools should continue to ensureÌýdaily registration or check-in arrangements for every pupil.
The list of seven points includes advice that schools should:
• Maximise the number of children and young people who are receiving in-school learning, while keepingÌýin line with clinical and scientific advice
• Give priority for lessons to learners who are taking national qualifications
• Where possible, ensure all learners in secondary schools receive some in-school education each week
• Maintain provision for key workers’ children and vulnerable learners
• Continue to ensure daily registration/check-in arrangements for every learner
• Maintain two-metreÌýphysical distancing between learners, between adults, and between adults and learners who are not from the same household.
The full guidance can be read .
