More than 20 Edinburgh schools to be used to teach 3,500 children of key workers during COVID-19 outbreak

Children from across the city will be accommodated in 23 schools to support key workers.

Around 3,500 children across the Capital will be sent to one of 23 schools to help relieve the pressure on key workers battling the coronavirus outbreak from Wednesday 25 March.

The schools, which will include a mix of primary and secondary, will open Monday to Friday each week to provide support to families where both parents or carers are considered to be key workers.

This means children of Police Scotland employees, health and care workers, emergency services staff and other essential workers will be accommodated to allow their parents and carers to get on with their jobs.

Tynecastle High School and Broughton High School will both be used to accommodate the children of emergency workers.

Nursery provision will also be provided by the council through 40 private nurseries with Edinburgh City Council stating that more provision is being explored.

Emergency day care is also being put in place for specific learners with additional support needs.

Parents and carers will be contacted by the council via email to inform them of which school and on what day their children need to attend.

Health protection guidelines will also be put in place in the school buildings and nurseries by staff in order to keep children and adults safe.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “Our teams have been working flat out to put in place learning and childcare plans to support our city’s key workers as they are all crucial in Edinburgh’s frontline response to the crisis.

“Providing around 3,500 places for children of key workers will ensure those health and care workers, emergency services staff and other essential workers are able to get on with their vital jobs in these challenging times.

“We’ve followed Government advice and prioritised those who need support to fulfil a key role in keeping our city running and we’re very grateful to all others in Edinburgh for their understanding in making other arrangements during the closures.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “In addition to providing learning and childcare in our school buildings we’ve also been putting in place provision in nurseries and for those families with special needs so our most vulnerable are supported.

“We’d ask parents and carers to be patient as we contact them over the coming days with details about where their children will be going. Our teams are doing a power of work pulling together all these arrangements and will be in touch directly.”

The full list of schools is;

Primary: Bonaly, Broomhouse, Castleview, Craigour Park, Craigroyston, Forthview, Juniper Green, Oxgangs, Pirniehall, St David’s RC, St Joseph’s RC and St Peter’s RC.

Secondary: Broughton, Craigmount, Craigroyston, Drummond, Firrhill, Forrester, Gracemount, Holyrood, St Augustine’s, The Royal High and Tynecastle.