Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has said that the Scottish government will announce when schools will reopen north of the border, not the UK government.

Meanwhile, her deputy, John Swinney - who is also Scotland’s education secretary - has revealed that one option being considered is to allow the youngest primary and secondary pupils back into school first.

Ms Sturgeon tweeted yesterday, following media reports that primary schools in England could go back in June, which led to a response from the Welsh government, saying that its education minister, Kirsty Williams, would announce when Welsh schools are to reopen, not the UK government.

Coronavirus: How will schools reopen?

Ms Sturgeon said: “Same for Scotland. @scotgov - in discussion with local authorities - will decide safe timetable for reopening schools.”

When Mr Swinney tweeted yesterday, naming various bodies that the government was working with on school reopenings, he prompted a response from prominent early years educator Pauline Scott, who said that one suggestion was to initially send P1 and S1 children back at times when no other children are at school, to allow them to familiarise themselves with their surroundings before older pupils return.

Mr Swinney, who received many responses to his original tweet, replied to Ms Scott to say: “These are helpful points and some of the options that we are all considering.”

Ms Sturgeon will this afternoon set out her plans for a “test, trace, isolate and support” strategy to suppress coronavirus in the months ahead.

At her daily briefing, the first minister will explain the Scottish government’s plan to disrupt “community transmission” of the virus.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have today proposed that Scotland looks to New Zealand when reopening schools.

In a letter to Mr Swinney, Lib Dem education spokeswoman Beatrice Wishart says: “Parents, teachers and pupils must be afforded an opportunity to plan ahead as much as possible.

“I therefore want to draw your attention to the four-level alert system that has been published by the New Zealand government. This details a series of ‘levels’, alongside a description of what can be expected at each level with respect to schools. I believe that it is possible to replicate such a framework and set out the path to the new normal in Scottish education, and beyond.” 

The Lib Dems highlight what New Zealand’s system means for schools:

• Level 4: Educational facilities closed, with all schools engaged in some form of distance learning.
• Level 3: Schools (years 1 to 10) and early childhood education centres can safely open with appropriate health measures in place, but will have limited capacity. Children should learn at home if possible, if a parent/carer is available to look after them and provided they have access to distance learning. Years 11-13 learn from home.
• Level 2: Schools and early childhood education centres open for all children, with distance learning available for those unable to attend school, such as people self-isolating. Any facility connected to a confirmed or probable case of Covid-19 must close for 72 hours to allow contact tracing, and then potentially for a further 14 days.
• Level 1: Schools open, and must operate safely, with the same tracing and closure arrangements as Level 2.