Schools will only reopen in AUGUST in Scotland – and even then only part-time, as Nicola Sturgeon reveals exit plan

SCHOOLS in Scotland won't reopen until August and students will only be in classrooms part-time.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced today Scotland's roadmap to relax lockdown measures, stressing it would be done slowly and cautiously.

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Teachers and other school staff will begin returning to classrooms in June without students, so they are prepared to get kids learning in-person on a part-time basis.

Ms Sturgeon said today: "Teachers and other staff will return during June to prepare classrooms.

"On 11 August, all schools will reopen.

"Children will return to a blended model with part time in school and part time at home.

"These arrangements will not represent a complete return to normality but we judge them to be most sensible (changes to lockdown)."

This means Scottish students won't follow some English primary school pupils who are due to head back on June 1.

But Scottish schools would break up for their summer holidays at the end of June and not head back until August based on a regular timetable.

Ms Sturgeon set out a four phase approach to easing lockdown restrictions after Scotland refused to follow the PM's plan to relax measures earlier this month.

Ms Sturgeon's announcement comes as the UK has been fractured by different approaches to exiting lockdown.

People in England have been allowed to spend leisure time outside since last week - but Scotland won't be able to sunbathe or spend more time outdoors until next week.

Ms Sturgeon said the measures would begin to be brought in from May 28 but stressed that they were not in place yet.

The UK Government has said people in England are allowed to socialise with other households but only with one person at a time, two metres apart.

Ms Sturgeon said whole households will be able to mix in "small groups" as long as they are outdoors and two metres apart.

The First Minister said: "You will be able to sit or sunbathe in parks and open areas and you will be able to meet people from one other household, although initially in small numbers."

"Because of the much higher risk of indoor transmission visiting inside each other's houses will not be permitted in phase one."

The rules over socialising will be laxer in Scotland - as people will be able to visit one another in gardens.

The roadmap says: "We are planning in this phase to change regulations to permit people to use public outdoor spaces for recreational purposes, for example to sit in a public space.

"We are also planning for one household to meet up with another household outdoors, in small numbers, including in gardens, but with physical distancing required."

Nicola Sturgeon's roadmap for exiting lockdown

• More time allowed outdoors - including for sunbathing and picnics
• People from different households will be able to see one another but only in small, socially distanced groups
• Outdoor shops such as garden centres will be allowed to reopen
• Resumption of NHS services paused to clear beds for COVID-19 patients
• Outdoor businesses such as agriculture, forestry and construction encouraged to return to safe working

Ms Sturgeon said the R number - or rate of transmission of coronavirus - is between 0.7 and 1 in Scotland, and measures would only be relaxed if the number stayed below 1.

She said: "In March (the R number) was probably above 4.

"Progress remains fragile and it would be too easy for the virus to run out of control again.

"Although we estimate that the R number is below 1, there is still uncertainty over how far below, we have some confidence that the R number has been below 1 for more than three weeks.

"In my judgement the time is right to move towards a careful relaxation of lockdown restrictions."

No10 said this lunchtime: "We welcome today's announcements as it shows our UK wide approach is working, we set the roadmap a few weeks ago and now the devolved administrations are following it at the right time for them."

"People are choosing to move at what they think is the right speed for them."

Small shops will be allowed to reopen in the second phase of eased measures, along with outdoor markets as long as physical distancing, hygiene measures and limits on numbers of people are in place

Beer gardens and restaurants will be allowed to reopen if they have outdoor seating.

Large shops, pubs and restaurants won't be able to open until the third phase of easing lockdown, as well as hairdressers and beauty services.

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