Schools will stay closed for most pupils until the middle of February at least, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.
The First Minister said the situation would be reviewed on February 2nd.
Schools have been shut for the majority of pupils since the beginning of the Christmas holidays over concerns about rising covid infections. Most pupils are having digital lessons at home.
In statement at Holyrood today, Sturgeon said that community transmission of the virus is too high to allow a return in early February.
She said that school and nursery premises will remain closed - with the exception of vulnerable and key worker children - will remain closed until the middle of February.
She added that if it possible the Government will begin a phased return in mid-February:
"But I also have to be straight with families and say that it is simply too early to be sure about whether and to what extent this will be possible.
"However, I will update Parliament again as soon as we have completed the review on 2 February."
She added: "I also know just how challenging and stressful this situation is for families.
"And above all, I understand how difficult, distressing and damaging it is for children and young people to have their education and their normal interactions with friends so disrupted."
The move is unsurprising as she said yesterday at her media briefing that she was not going to raise the expectations of parents.
Her deputy, John Swinney, had also said that reopening schools early next month was a “tall order”.
