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Covid update: Christmas and New Year school holiday dates to remain as planned


By David Porter

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The timing of school holidays, which vary around Scotland, was raised with Ministers in the Education Recovery Group, given many schools break up very close to Christmas and the potential for increased social interaction in households following the limited relaxation of rules between December 23 to 27.

John Swinney
John Swinney

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills John Swinney said: “Being in school is in the best interests of children and our priority remains to ensure schools are safe, and open.

"I want to thank school leaders, teachers and school staff for their outstanding commitment to education that has enabled children and young people to learn safely in school since August.

“The advice I have received from public health officials, and the Covid-19 Sub-group on Education and Children’s Issues, is not to alter Christmas and New Year holiday dates.

"There has been discussion over the past week about whether any changes were required to the holiday period.

"I can confirm that there will be no changes to school holidays."

In the letter to the sub-group it was explained - "The sub-group on education and children’s issues was asked to provide advice on possible changes to the school holiday arrangements, for the purpose of reducing social contact and driving down transmission of the virus before and after the five day relaxation of restrictions over the festive period.

"The sub-group considered three possible options-

Maintain the current arrangements, whereby term dates are determined by local authorities and arrangements made in line with local circumstances

Close school buildings from December 18 (meaning the final day of school activity would be December 17 ) and reopen on January 11 throughout Scotland, while maintaining current term dates to provide remote learning on weekdays outwith the planned school holidays

Close schools and change term dates so that holidays for all schools run from December 18 to January 11, with no learning or teaching taking place during that period.

"With a number of considerations the group advised that the current arrangements, whereby school term dates are decided locally and based on in-school learning, should be maintained.

"However, this was conditional on school staff being enabled to have a proper break over the festive period, and their wellbeing being given due attention.

"The prospect of having to undertake contact-tracing over Christmas is regarded as being the straw that might break the back of many teachers and headteachers.

"An alternative approach should be agreed urgently, working with local public health teams and the national contract tracing centre.

"Group members expressed significant concern about January, recognising the range of pressures that will come together, including: an anticipated post-Christmas increase in infections and hospitalisations; the return of schools and universities, likely to lead to a short term increase in cases and the potential for significant numbers to have to isolate; the delivery and administration of vaccine; and the normal winter pressures.

"For these reasons, allowing for local flexibility to reduce coincident challenges would be helpful."


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