Schools will remain closed for at least another two weeks into February, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

School were due to return on February 1 at the earliest but the First Minister said there is still too high a level of transmission of covid-19 in communities to allow that.

Instead, it will be the middle of next month before a phased return will be possible.

No date has been given for a definite phased, or full, return. Ms Sturgeon said cabinet would review the situation on February 2.

The First Minister said: “It is of course a priority for all of us to get children back to normal schooling as soon as possible.

“I know how much work teachers, school leaders and other staff are doing to support home learning and I am very grateful to them for that.

But I also know just how challenging and stressful this situation is for families.”

She added: “However, our reluctant judgment is that community transmission of the virus is too high - and is likely to remain so for the next period - to allow a safe return to school on February 1st.

“The Cabinet decided today that - except for vulnerable and key worker children - school and nursery premises will remain closed until mid-February.

“We will review the situation again on February 2nd and I hope we can set out then a firmer timetable for getting children back into school.

“I can say this today: if it is at all possible, as I very much hope it will be, to begin even a phased return to in-school learning in mid-February, we will.”