Stirling Council is looking forward to welcoming children and young people to school and nursery from August 12 following the Scottish Government announcement on 30th July.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament on the COVID-19 route map, the First Minister said the latest scientific advice and evidence supported the safe return of pupils to school.
The Council has been working towards a return to full-time schooling after the summer break in line with ongoing Scottish Government guidance.
Individual schools will share arrangements for this return with parents, carers and young people in the coming days.
In accordance with the finalised Government guidance, comprehensive plans, which include additional health and safety measures, will now be put in place. Any further updates, such as on school transport, will be communicated directly to parents and families by individual schools ahead of the start of term.
Stirling Council nurseries will also reopen to children on 12 August after new guidance was published by the Scottish Government confirming it is safe to do so.
As with schools, the local authority has been working towards this scenario and individual settings have been in contact with families with offers of a place and information.
This included the news that the Council will provide 1140 hours of free early learning and childcare per year for eligible children from August.
These offers still stand and any new information on the back of the updated guidance will be shared with parents and carers over the coming days.
Convener of Stirling Council’s Children and Young People Committee, Cllr Susan McGill said: “Our schools and nurseries are thrilled to be welcoming our children and young people back in early August.
“The pandemic has been an uncertain and challenging time for families and a return to some much-needed normality and structure is really positive news.
“With the resumption of full-time education, teachers and early learning practioners are looking forward to ensuring children and young people receive the highest quality of care and learning.
“On behalf of the Council, I would like to thank parents, carers, young people and staff for their incredible support and resilience during this unparalleled crisis.”
As Scotland continues to work to supress the COVID-19 outbreak, all local authority schools and nurseries are carrying out rigorous risk assessments before reopening, and a suite of additional health and safety protocols will be in place.
More information:
For details on the Scottish Government’s decision to fully reopen schools, including a link to the updated guidance, please head to the Scottish Government website
The newly published guidance on the reopening of early learning and childcare settings can also be viewed on the Scottish Government website.
For all the latest Stirling Council education updates during Coronavirus (COVID-19), including FAQs on the reopening of schools and nurseries, please head here.