Depute Council Leader responds to today's First Minister announcement
Midlothian Council Depute Leader and Cabinet Member for Education Councillor Jim Muirhead thanked local residents for complying with the level four restrictions, which First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced today (Tuesday) are to be extended until at least the end of February.
Cautious welcome to phased reopening of schools
Given the detrimental impact school closures is having on children’s wellbeing, he also cautiously welcomed news in the First Minister’s statement of the phased and gradual return of some pupils and children to nurseries and schools after the mid-term break on 22 February.
Younger children back full-time
The changes, which will be confirmed by the Scottish Government on 16 February, will see a full-time return of early learning and childcare for all children below school age after the February break. P1-P3 pupils will also return full-time. Meanwhile, senior phase pupils will come back to school on a part-time and limited basis to allow them to complete work required for national qualification courses.
Please heed the 'stay at home' message
Cllr Muirhead said: “The First Minister has confirmed average daily case numbers have more than halved in the last three weeks. So lockdown is working. That’s because of people complying with the restrictions so many thanks to everyone who is doing so. We all need to heed the stay at home message to help save lives. As the First Minister indicated, if progress continues, a careful and gradual easing of these restrictions may be possible from early March – something we’ll all look forward to if this can be done safely.
Need to have confidence phased reopening safe
“I know parents and carers will also welcome a phased return of our children and young people to early learning settings and schools, as will our teachers as school closures are having detrimental impact on the wellbeing of children and young people. However, we need to make sure this phased reopening can happen in such a way that staff are confident that education can be delivered safely.
Families and staff doing a great job
“Families and our staff are doing a tremendous job supporting children to learn at home or in school. Our staff will continue to offer remote learning support to families with children in other stages and with children required to shield or self-isolate. In-school support to our key worker children and vulnerable children will also be provided. Our education service will be in touch with parents and carers with more details of the phased reopening just as soon as possible once the arrangements are confirmed by the Scottish Government after 16 February.”
Tougher quarantine measures coming
The level four restrictions have closed non-essential shops and enshrined the ‘stay at home’ message in law. To combat the spread of the virus, tougher quarantine measures will also be introduced for all people travelling into Scotland including from the rest of the UK, further details of which will be announced later.
The vaccination programme
The First Minister also gave more information about the roll out of the vaccination programme, more details of where and when it will be given at the NHS Inform Vaccination hub.