Coronavirus in Scotland: Impact of school closures statement to be delivered today

A full statement on the impact of the closure of Scottish schools from Friday will be made in Holyrood today.

Education Secretary John Swinney will tell MSPs how vulnerable children, those that rely on free school meals, and how the exams will take place in a ministerial statement.

The statement is scheduled after portfolio questions in the Scottish Parliament which take place at 1.45pm on Thursday.

A statement on schools has been postponed until tomorrow.

Nicola Sturgeon said today it was “inevitable” that schools and nurseries would close, and the “assumption is it will happen at the end of this week”.

Questions had been asked about the Scottish Government’s policy of keeping schools open, while they have been closed in most other European countries affected by coronavirus.

Today the First Minister announced that in line with scientific advice, they would close. She said that the government wanted to reduce the impact on young people's education as much as possible, but had “no answer yet” to how long the closure would last.

She said the government was working closely with Cosla about supporting vulnerable pupils who need free school meals and how exams will be held, and to put in place arrangements that provide childcare for key workers, with private nurseries and childminders being key.

With increasing numbers of teachers and children in self-isolation due to the spread of coronavirus, the decision to close schools was “a mix of science and practical reality”.

She added: “People should not assume the schools will reopen after Easter break. We cannot promise they will reopen before the summer holidays.

“This will radically change life, but it's a measure of how serious the virus and the challenge is. We are heading into stormy waters."

MSPs will today also be told what the Scottish Government intends to do to support Scotland’s economy and vital services for vulnerable people.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell and Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, will set out details of a £350m package of support. Yesterday Ms Campbell said that the government was looking at helping those in fuel poverty, with rent arrears and with a supply of food.