The return of some school pupils in Scotland is set to be announced, as top government adviser Jason Leitch claimed “progress” is being made against the coronavirus.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is updating MSPs today on changes decided by the Scottish Government on the future of lockdown restrictions.
Leitch, the national clinical director, said his recommendation is younger children could return.
It follows statements by Sturgeon and education secretary John Swinney on a phased opening of schools with younger people first in line.
“We’re heading in the right direction,” Leitch told BBC Radio Scotland.
“I can break the secret – you definitely won’t see all of lockdown lifted, but there is progress and therefore you’ve got to think, as public health advisers, what is the first thing you should do?
“The most important thing is children. That’s what we’ve trailed in the last few weeks that, if we can, we will get some kids back to school.”
Leitch added that, although it looks as though some pupils will return, schools will not go back to normal.
“You’ve heard the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister talk about priority groups - the very small kids for whom the wellbeing of schools, the collective nature of schools and early learning centres are so important for development, and we agree," he said.
Asked about the possibility of older children returning, Leitch said: “It gets more difficult at that end for a couple of reasons.
“The principal reason is that older kids behave like adults in relation to the virus, so they can spread the virus and the new variant spreads proportionately more easily even in that group. So we’ve got to be cautious.”
He added: “But, we don’t want kids not to get qualifications.”
