SCHOOLS and councils “are being encouraged” by ministers to make sure they have plans in place should pupils in virus hotspots areas have to return to remote learning.

Proposals are being considered under the Scottish Government’s new tiered alert system that may require children to return to online learning in some parts of the country should existing restrictions not bring down levels of the virus or if it accelerates at a later date.

Amid concerns from the teachers’ trade union the EIS about any notice given to schools in future to return to online learning in the event of local lockdowns, a Scottish Government spokesperson said that while the “top priority is to keep schools safe and open” local authorities and head teachers were told when schools reopened in the summer they should have arrangements in place to return to remote learning if that “becomes unavoidable”.

After the closure of all schools from March to August concerns were raised that pupils without good internet connections or computers at home were at a disadvantage to peers with access to better equipment.

The Scottish Government spokesperson said £25m was being invested to “address digital exclusion in schools”.

She said: “Schools and councils have been encouraged to put in place their own arrangements for remote learning if this becomes unavoidable. Education Scotland has worked with local authority partners to develop a shared national offer for schools to draw on, this includes access to live, recorded and supported learning resources, “We know access to technology is, and will remain, a fundamental aspect of education in Scotland. We are investing £25 million to address digital exclusion in schools.”

She added the funds should deliver around 70,000 devices and “18,000 connectivity solutions for disadvantaged children and young people across Scotland”.