Glasgow City Council has released advice to parents ahead of the delayed return to schools and nurseries after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The Scottish Government earlier announced that festive breaks will be extended for all campuses amid concerns about a faster spreading Covid strain. 

The plan will see the return of pupils to schools pushed back, with the majority of children taking to online learning. 

READ MORE: Coronavirus: The area in Glasgow with highest cases and the areas with the lowest

The children of key workers will however return after the Christmas break on January 6.

Other students will have their break period extended until January 11. 

Following that date, those students will begin online learning for at least one week until January 18. 

The local authority's Executive Director of Education, Maureen McKenna has written to all Glasgow families and senior phase pupils outlining the arrangements and details on the delayed return.

READ MORE: Coronavirus Scotland: Changes to Glasgow schools amid latest Covid restrictions

The letter reads: "We know that these arrangements will cause a degree of anxiety, but we hope that you all understand that this is necessary as a preventative measure following the identification of the new strain of the virus and in response to the updated restrictions."

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow nursery arrangements

  • For key workers: If your child’s nursery was due to open on Tuesday, January 5 then Glasgow City Council will be using that day for staff planning. If your child’s nursery was due to open on Wednesday, January 6 (term-time nursery) then the local authority will be using that day for staff planning.
  • For children with parents classed as key workers, this means that early learning and childcare will be available from Wednesday, January 6 or Thursday, January 7 (term-time nurseries) depending on the day your child was due to return to nursery. 
  • This means that early learning and childcare will be available from Wednesday 6 January or Thursday 7 January (term-time nurseries) for the children of key workers and for those children that nurseries assess would benefit.
  • Otherwise, your child will be due to return on Monday, January 18, 2021.

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow primary school arrangements

  • On Wednesday, January 6, primary schools will only open after the holidays for school staff for planning purposes.
  • On Thursday, January, 7 and Friday, January 8, primary schools will open to offer childcare to the children of keyworkers and for those children that schools assess would benefit.
  • All other children will effectively have an extended holiday until January 11, 2021.
  • From Monday, January 11, children of keyworkers and those children that schools assess would benefit will be taught in school until Monday, January 18 at the earliest.
  • All other children will be provided with online learning activities.
  • School meals will be provided in school to eligible pupils but there will be no breakfast provision from Thursday, January 7 to Friday, January 15.

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow secondary school arrangements

  • On Wednesday, January 6, secondary schools will only open after the holidays for school staff for planning purposes.
  • On Thursday, January 7 and Friday, January 8, secondary schools will open to offer childcare to the children of keyworkers and for those young people that schools assess would benefit.
  • All other young people will effectively have an extended holiday until January 11.
  • Parents are advised to contact your school’s pastoral care teacher on Wednesday, January 6 if you need childcare for your child.
  • From Monday, January 11, secondary schools will offer a mixture of online and in-school learning. It is expected most of the learning will take place online given that all young people now have their own iPad.
  • School meals will be provided in school to eligible pupils.

Keyworker clarification

Where a parent is able to work from home then they should do so and support their child’s learning.

Parents and carers should be aware that other family members, such as grandparents can provide childcare.

Health and Care workers directly supporting the Covid response and associated staff including workers supporting life-threatening emergency work.

  • Those working to provide community care provision such as energy suppliers, staff providing childcare/learning.

• All other health and care workers including fire, police, prisons, social workers.