SCOTLAND’S schoolchildren will not head back to the classroom until August 11, according to a leaked report. And, until a vaccine is found, it’s likely pupils will spend half their time learning in the classroom and half their time learning at home.

The proposals from the Scottish Government’s Education Recovery Group, leaked to the Daily Record, also suggested teachers could start back next month to prepare for classes.

“One senior education source told the paper: “Trying to re-open schools in a pandemic was always going to be a big challenge but lots of effort has gone into this plan.

“It is obviously dependent on the science but if the scientific advice is positive then this plan can be implemented and children will be able to return to school safely.”

The paper says the Government is also looking at expanding the size of the school estate to deliver physical distancing, and increasing the size of the workforce.

Pupils starting primary or moving up to secondary education could be given an “in-school experience” next month.

Asked about the proposals at the Scottish Government’s daily briefing, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said no “final decision” had yet been made on the return to class. She said:”We want to see children back in school as quickly as possible. Many of the impacts of dealing with this virus worry me profoundly but the loss of education, or impact on children’s education, is something that I know worries parents and worries me, worries all of us.

“So we want to get children back to school as quickly as possible, but we have to do that in a way that is safe and that has the confidence both of parents and of teachers. That’s why we’re considering these things so carefully through the Education Recovery Group.”

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Responding to the comments, Scottish Tory shadow education secretary Jamie Greene said parents needed to “see what the path out of this looks like”. He added: “Until there is clarity, it’s impossible for them to find a way back to work.”

The teaching union the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) warned there were still some challenges that needed to be overcome for schools to partially re-open. A survey of 26,000 of the union’s members found that 95% believed pupils should not return until “schools are safe places to teach and learn”.

That means social distancing in place in buildings, and, more generally, an effective test, trace and isolate operation in place, and having Covid-19 under control.

The survey found 64% of the union’s members said the lack of access to technology at home would be a “key barrier for many children in terms of home learning”.

EIS secretary general Larry Flanagan said: “Looking ahead to when schools re-open, there is an even more pressing need than normal to address the impact of poverty on children’s education.”

The UK Government has found itself in conflict with teaching unions over plans to re-open English schools on June 1.

However, a leading expert at the World Health Organisation said it could be safe, although not risk free. Dr David Nabarro said: “There will be risks but it’s a case of balancing up the risks. You don’t want children missing out on school for a long time.”