Perth and Kinross Council is finalising a plan to re-open schools for children of key workers.
Schools across the region were due to open on Monday morning to help some families who could not secure childcare. All teachers had been told on Friday afternoon they would need to return to class after the weekend.
However, the plan was changed on Sunday evening, following fresh advice from the Scottish Government.
The council’s education director Sheena Devlin accepted the sudden change had caused disruption.
“This is a fast-moving and ever-changing set of circumstances,” she said. “Perth and Kinross Council, similar to a number of other local authorities, took the difficult decision to close schools to all pupils and staff to ensure the safety and well-being of our young people and staff, and in accordance with the statement made by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Sunday.”
Ms Devlin said: “We understand these changes have caused disruption for parents, pupils and staff. We appreciate the patience and support they have demonstrated over the past week.
“We are currently working very hard to set up children’s activity centres, also known as hubs, for key workers.
“We hope to have these up and running by Thursday, if not sooner, and information about these activity centres will follow in due course for the targeted groups.”
Ms Devlin said systems were in place to support vulnerable children and young people, including online services.
The country’s largest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), called on all local authorities to adhere to official health advice.
It stressed that rules stating home working for students and staff should be the “default model”, except in exceptional circumstances.
General secretary Larry Flanagan said: “It is absolutely essential that Scotland’s local authorities develop models of education provision that will minimise the risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus amongst students, staff and the wider community.
“This should be based on the Scottish Government rules on the presumption of schools closing to support social distancing, students and staff working remotely from home where possible, and strictly limiting pupils attending hub facilities to the children of key workers without another childcare option and, also, certain categories of vulnerable children.”
He added: “Failing to take these steps could substantially increase the risk of infection to pupils and teachers and, as a consequence, also increase the risk of the COVID-19 virus being passed on to parents and family members who are essential workers such as those working in the frontline of NHS services.”
