Some pupils may soon start returning to school buildings, first minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

While Scotland’s lockdown will now remain in place until at least the end of February, an exception has been made for schools and nurseries.

She told the Scottish Parliament that she wanted to get some pupils back into school buildings before the end of the month.

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Ms Sturgeon said that, while “our room for manoeuvre is limited”, the government had decided that a phased return could start from 22 February.

This would include children in the early years, P1-3 and - on a part-time basis - some students in the senior phase of secondary school.

Coronavirus: Plans for reopening school buildings

The first minister said that senior secondary students will only be able to return to ensure practical work important to achieving qualifications is completed, and that only between 5 and 8 per cent of any school’s roll should be able to return (a figure that was later clarified).

She added: “We also intend to allow small increases in existing provision for children and young people with significant additional support needs (ASN) where there is a clear and demonstrable necessity.”

.@NicolaSturgeon says the Scottish government intends to allow the phased return of schools in school buildings from 22 February.

Return for:
-Early learning (pre-school age)
-Full time for all pupils P1-P3
-Part time for some senior studentshttps://t.co/Ib0oFrLh8x pic.twitter.com/f98AabQNpw

- BBC Scotland News (@BBCScotlandNews) February 2, 2021

Ms Sturgeon said that the current closure of schools to most pupils was necessary, but that there were concerns about the impact on pupils with each day that they spent away from school buildings.

The first minister said that adults must be prepared to put up with restrictions for longer in order to get pupils back to “normality” sooner.

Ms Sturgeon also said that there would be a significant expansion of Covid testing in educational settings to support the return to school. She said those working in schools and early learning and childcare attached to schools would have access to at-home testing twice a week, as would senior phase pupils.

When asked for more details by Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie about these plans, Ms Sturgeon said they would be in place for schools by the planned start of the phased return of pupils from 22 February.

Gradual return to school from week beginning February 22 - beginning early learning and childcare, then early primary, followed by a part-time return of senior secondary pupils.

There would never be more than 5-8% of secondary roll physically present , says @NicolaSturgeon

- Emma Seith (@Emma_Seith) February 2, 2021

The EIS teaching union welcomed the planned rollout of regular testing for staff and students, but warned that virus levels must fall “substantially’” before the plans for a phased return for pupils can be confirmed.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “Clearly, any school return remains contingent upon continued progress on community suppression of the virus and that is not a given, so we need to see infection levels coming down substantially before the return date can be confirmed.

“A phased return is a more cautious approach, but we are surprised that the first minister did not discuss the need for physical distancing amongst P1-P3 pupils, given that she clearly stated the new variant impacts on all age groups, whereas previously younger children seemed to be less directly involved in transmission. We will need to see the scientific evidence to justify this approach.”

On the planned rollout of regular testing for school staff and some secondary pupils, Mr Flanagan said: “The availability of regular resting for staff is something the EIS has called for, so that is welcome, as is its extension to senior phase pupils, which will offer some reassurance to their families.”

Leaders of all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities have welcomed the phased return to in-person learning and teaching announced this afternoon.

Stephen McCabe, children and young people spokesperson for local authorities’ umbrella organisation Cosla, said: “Councils have done an extraordinary job in providing remote learning for children and young people in the most difficult of circumstances. Whilst this provision has been significantly enhanced since March last year, we do know that it is no substitute for face-to-face learning.

“The impact of the pandemic on our children and young people should not be underestimated. The closure of schools will, of course, have a disproportionate impact on those from disadvantaged communities, and that is why we welcome the phased return to in-school learning.”

He added: “We know that our youngest children are hugely affected by not being in nursery and school, and addressing this has to be a priority. At the same time, those young people in the senior phase who cannot carry out practical work also need to be prioritised.”

On Twitter, children’s commissioner Bruce Adamson backed the decision to prioritise getting children back to school, “even though it requires maintaining restrictions on adults for longer”.

Welcome recognition from @NicolaSturgeon of importance of getting children back to school and @scotgov decision to prioritise children even though it requires maintaining restrictions on adults for longer.

- Bruce Adamson (@Bruce_Adamson) February 2, 2021