Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice and guidance for schools

As we enter the next phases of the Scottish Government's road map out of lock down in response to the coronavirus global pandemic we will post current information here on the recovery, resilience and reconnection framework for our schools and learning.

• Free School Meals - additional Summer Payment update - Thursday 24 June 2021

Letters have been issued via schools to update families eligible for free school meals of the Scottish Government's pandemic support summer payment.  Read the letter here:

 Free School Meal Summer Payment update from Maureen McKenna [81kb]

• SQA  National Qualifications Appeals Process 2021 Update - Wednesday 2 June 2021

Information has been published by the SQA setting out the appeals process for this year and you can read all the information at https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/79049.html

• SQA National Qualifications Update - Friday 23 April 2021

Maureen McKenna, Executive Director of Education has written to all senior phase young people and their parent and carers to give an update on the SQA national qualifications.

You can read the letters below:

 SQA National Qualifications April 2021 Update - letter to senior phase young people [66kb]

 SQA National Qualifications April 2021 Update - letter to parents and carers [65kb]

• Eligible nursery covid support payment - Tuesday 20 April 2021

Letters have been sent out today to all council and partnership nursery families informing them of the one-off Scottish Government covid support payment to families who meet the eligibility criteria. Your child needs to live in Glasgow to qualify.

You can read a copy of the letter here  Nursery COVID 19 support payment [93kb]

• Scottish Government confirm return to school for the majority of pupils full-time after Spring Break - Tuesday 6 April 2021

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that almost all pupils in Scotland will return to school full-time after the Easter holidays. Children who are on the shielding list will continue to learn from home until 26th April.  You can read more at http://bit.ly/SchoolsUpdate0604

• Free School Meal payment update - letter sent with payment information - Tuesday 30 March 2021

 Free School Meal update - 30 March 2021 [84kb]

• Advice for Covid-19 Close Contacts - Friday 26 March 2021

Parents are reminded to book a PCR test for their child via www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/test-and-protect/coronavirus-covid-19-testing if they are identified as a close contact of someone who has Covid-19.

Please use the weblink to book an appointment rather than going to the Asymptomatic Test Centres in Govanhill and the Gorbals.

If you need support to book a test, please call 0300 303 2713.

• Updated review of school activities affected by Coronavirus - Friday 19 March 2021

  A number of school activities had to be paused in line with the Scottish Government advice and guidance on suppressing the virus and reducing the risk of any infections.  This included school lets, City Hall music, swimming lessons and parents' evenings.  A review has now been carried out by Education Services and the updated information contained in the following document for information:

 Review of school activities March 2021 [77kb]

• Updated parents and carers' letters from Director of Education - Thursday 4 March 2021

Maureen McKenna, Executive Director of Education has sent out an update to families across the city to update them on the Scottish Government's Phase 2 of the return to school following the current lockdown.

 Maureen McKenna Primary parent/carer update - March [137kb]

 Maureen McKenna Secondary letter to Parents/Carers - March 21 [141kb]

• Scottish Government update on phased return to school - Tuesday 2 March 2021

The Scottish Government has confirmed the return of P4 - P7 and all secondary pupils on a part-time basis from Monday 15 March.

Regulated childcare, including breakfast and after-school clubs, for primary pupils will also re-start on 15 March as part of the Phase 2 return.

Read all the details at https://www.gov.scot/news/phase-2-of-schools-return/

• Free School Meal payment update - letter sent with payment information and dates - Thursday 25 February 2021

 Free school meal update 25 Feb from Maureen McKenna [113kb]

• Scottish Government update on phased return to school - Tuesday 23 February 2021

The next phase has been announced with the rest of primary school - P4 - P7 and some more senior phase pupils back in the classroom for part of their learning from Monday 15 March.

You can read the details at Gradually easing lockdown restrictions - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

You can read the strategic framework out of lockdown at Coronavirus (COVID-19): Strategic Framework update - February 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

A further school update is expected by the First Minister on Tuesday 2 March.

• Professor Jason Leitch writes to parents and carers - Thursday 18 February 2021

Professor Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director has written to all families with primary and nursery children with the most up-to-date scientific evidence behind the phased return to school plans:

 Jason Leitch parent and carer letter - Feb 21 [162kb]

• Updated parents and carers' letter from Director of Education - Wednesday 17 February 2021

Maureen McKenna has sent out an update letter to all Glasgow families with return to school details:

 Maureen McKenna letter Nursery - Feb 2021 [98kb]

 Maureen McKenna letter Primary - Feb 2021 [101kb]

 Maureen McKenna letter Secondary - Feb 2021 [101kb]

 Maureen McKenna letter ASL - Feb 2021 [102kb]

• Scottish Government update on phased return to schools from Monday 22 February - Tuesday 16 February 2021

The Scottish Government has confirmed the phased return to face to face lessons in school for early learning and childcare, P1 - P3 and a small percentage of senior phase pupils for practical lessons from Monday 22 February.

The updated guidance has been published at Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on schools reopening - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

You can read the news release that's been issued here Remote learning to continue for majority - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

• Remote Learning opportunities overview in Glasgow Schools published - Wednesday 3 February 2021

Evidence of remote learning opportunities and good practice in our primary, secondary and ASL schools has been gathered during the current virus lockdown restrictions and has been published today.

 Education Services - Overview on Remote Learning Opportunities in Glasgow [1Mb]

And here's some examples of good practice across our schools for information:

 Remote Learning Engagement - Use of SeeSaw and Teams [1Mb]

 Supporting Access - Learning in an ASL School [1Mb]

 Home Learning Case Study - Use of Glasgow Improvement Challenge Resources at Fasque [1Mb]

 Senior Phase Remote Learning West OS Resources [1Mb]

• Phased return to face to face learning in school announced by Scottish Government - Tuesday 2 February 2021

A phased return to face to face learning in school for P1 - P3, all nursery children and part time for practical lessons for small percentages of senior phase pupils on 22 February has been announced by the Scottish Government.

This will be confirmed on 16 February with further updates on plans for the remaining year groups as well.

Testing for school staff and senior pupils details have also been published.

Read the full details at https://www.gov.scot/news/new-measures-to-tackle-virus/ and https://www.gov.scot/news/back-to-school-1/

• Senior Phase pupil update letter from Maureen McKenna issued - Monday 1 February 2021

The education director has written to all senior phase pupils in our secondary schools with an update on remote learning and SQA assessment update.

 Update Senior Phase pupil letter from Maureen McKenna [65kb]

• Glasgow City Parents' Group (GCPG) - Parents Q&A with Director of Education - Friday 29 January 2021

• Parent and carers' update letter from Maureen McKenna issued - Wednesday 27 January 2021

Letters have been sent to the families of nursery, primary and secondary children and young people from Maureen McKenna.  Secondary pupils have been told about the change of date for the next in-service day which will now be Monday 19 April.  The in-service day for primary schools remains the same - Wednesday 10 February after the mid-term break.

Copies of the letters here:

 Update parent and carers' letter - Nursery Jan 21 [98kb]

 Update parent and carers' letter - Primary Jan 21 [65kb]

 Update parent and carers' letter - Secondary Jan 21 [67kb]

 Update parent and carers' letter - ASL Jan 21 [65kb]

• Scottish Government announce a further delay to a normal return for schools and nurseries - Tuesday 19 January 2021

Lockdown restrictions have been extended to at least the middle of February to help suppress the new strain of the virus with remote learning to continue for the majority of pupils across Scotland.

The next review of the dates will be on Tuesday 2 February with a phased return being discussed as an option depending on community transmission.

Full update from Scottish Government here https://www.gov.scot/news/review-of-restrictions/ and here https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-school-re-opening-arrangements-for-january-2021/

• Additional Free School Meal Payment January 2021 - parent and carers letter from Maureen McKenna - Wednesday 13 January 2021

A letter has been sent to all families with details of the additional free school meal payment to eligible children and young people during the current Scottish Government lockdown restrictions and paid every two weeks to support families until schools reopen to all.

You can read the letter here:

 Free School Meals January 2021 additional payment letter from Maureen McKenna [65kb]

For more information on eligibility criteria and how to apply for free school meals visit Clothing Grants and Free School Meals

• Updated supplementary guidance for schools published by the Scottish Government - Wednesday 6 January 2021

Advice and guidance for schools has been updated following the new lockdown and stay at home restrictions to take into account the extension to remote learning for the majority of pupils in January with in school learning only for vulnerable children and keyworker children.

You can read the updated advice at Coronavirus (COVID-19): school re-opening arrangements for January 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

• Updated information on childcare arrangements - children under 5 and school age children 

Under the current Scottish Government regulations nurseries are only open to the children on keyworkers and vulnerable families.  We've published updated advice and guidance on the Glasgow Family Information Service (GFIS) and can be accessed at https://www.gfis.org.uk/

• First Minister announces new stay at home regulations from midnight and delayed return for schools and nurseries - Monday 4 January 2021

New stay at home regulations - except for essential purposes - have been announced by the First Minister and include changes to schools and nurseries which will now remain closed to the majority of children and young people until the beginning of February at least and pupils being taught online. 

The arrangements for our vulnerable families and the children of keyworkers remains the same with details sent in letters to Glasgow's parents and carers before the Christmas holidays.  Copies of the letters are below.

You can read the full regulations published by the Scottish Government at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/

• Information on January school and nursery arrangements sent to parents, carers and senior pupils - Tuesday 22 December 2020

Maureen McKenna, Executive Director of Education has written to all Glasgow families and senior phase pupils outlining the arrangements and details on the delayed return to schools and nurseries after the Christmas and New Year holidays and following the Scottish Government's new precautionary restrictions to tackle the new strain of the virus.

You can read the updated Scottish Government advice and guidance at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-childcare-provision-from-26-december-to-18-january/

Copies of the letters for nurseries, primaries, secondaries and for senior pupils:

 Jan 2021 arrangements - Maureen McKenna Nursery Parent/Carer letter [92kb]

 January 2021 Primary school arrangements - Maureen McKenna letter to parents/carers [79kb]

 January 2021 Secondary school arrangements - Maureen McKenna letter to parents/carers [78kb]

 January 2021 arrangements - Maureen McKenna Letter to Senior phase pupils [64kb]

• Update on self-isolation period from Monday 14 December 2020 - Friday 11 December 2020

The Scottish Government has just announced that the period of self-isolation has reduced from 14 days to 10 days

The change, taking effect from Monday 14 December 2020, will apply as follows:

·        Someone who, from 14 December, has been contacted through Test and Protect - including by the scot app - or their Local Health Board and have been notified to self-isolate, should do so for 10 days.

·        Someone who, from 14 December, is required to quarantine following arrival into Scotland from overseas, should self-isolate for a period of 10 days.

·        Someone who was previously instructed to self-isolate will, from 14 December, be able to stop self-isolating ten days from when they were first notified to do so.

Updated Letter B  for parents and carers for schools has been issued to our Headteachers  Coronavirus Parent and Carer Letter B - school positive case [71kb]

Letter B for parents and carers for nurseries is now available  Coronavirus Parent and Carer Letter B - nursery positive case [61kb]

• Maureen McKenna, Executive Director of Education Letter to Parents and Carers - October 2020

 Maureen McKenna, Executive Director of Education Letter to Parent and Carers Oct 20 [135kb]

• West Partnership advice, guidance and processes for schools and nurseries dealing with positive coronavirus case - Tuesday 8 September 2020

Schools across the city have been sent a set of documents from Maureen McKenna, Executive Director of Education and in collaboration with our GGC Public Health colleagues, that will help schools and nurseries deal with a positive virus case that's been identified and linked to their school.

 School advice and guidance - positive coronavirus (COVID-19) case linked to a school [444kb] 

 Section 2 At Home Learning Dec 2020 [1Mb]

 Letter A updated October 20 [214kb]  

 Letter B (contact tracing) - Parent and carers of contacts - 23 Feb 21 [71kb] 

 Letter C updated October 20 [212kb] 

 School Contact List [25kb]

 Arabic Letter A General advisory letter to parents and carers (Sept) G140914 ARABIC [1Mb]  Arabic Letter B (no restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 ARABIC [1Mb]  Arabic Letter B (Restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 ARABIC [1Mb]

 Cantonese Letter A General advisory letter to parents and carers (Sept) G140914 CANTONESE [60kb]  Cantonese Letter B (no restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 CANTONESE [60kb]  Cantonese Letter B (Restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 CANTONESE [205kb]

 Farsi Letter A General advisory letter to parents and carers (Sept) G140914 FARSI [143kb]  Farsi Letter B (no restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 FARSI [174kb]  Farsi Letter B (Restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 FARSI [129kb]

 Kurdish Sorani Letter A General advisory letter to parents and carers (Sept) G140914-KURDISH SORANI [62kb]  Kurdish Sorani Letter B (no restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914-KURDISH SORANI [64kb]  Kurdish Sorani Letter B (Restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914-KURDISH SORANI [62kb]

 Mandarin Letter A General advisory letter to parents and carers (Sept) G140914 Simplified Chinese [61kb]  Mandarin Letter B (no restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 Simplified Chinese [62kb]  Mandarin Letter B (Restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 Simplified Chinese [171kb]

 Polish Letter A General advisory letter to parents and carers (Sept) G140914 POLISH [60kb]  Portuguese Letter B (no restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 PORTUGUESE [61kb]  Portuguese Letter B (Restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 PORTUGUESE [61kb]

 Punjabi Letter A General advisory letter to parents and carers (Sept) G140914 PUNJABI [1Mb]  Punjabi Letter B (no restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 PUNJABI [1Mb]  Punjabi Letter B (Restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 PUNJABI [1Mb]

 Romanian Letter A General advisory letter to parents and carers (Sept) G140914 ROMANIAN [128kb]  Romanian Letter B (no restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 ROMANIAN [127kb]  Romanian Letter B (Restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 ROMANIAN [129kb]

 Russian Letter A General advisory letter to parents and carers (Sept) G140914 RUSSIAN [62kb]  Russian Letter B (no restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 RUSSIAN [66kb]  Russian Letter B (Restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 RUSSIAN [62kb]

 Slovak Letter A General advisory letter to parents and carers (Sept) G140914 SLOVAK [61kb]  Slovak Letter B (no restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 SLOVAK [61kb]  Slovak Letter B (Restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 SLOVAK [61kb]

 Urdu Letter A General advisory letter to parents and carers (Sept) G140914 URDU [62kb]  Urdu Letter B (no restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 URDU [62kb]  Urdu Letter B (Restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 URDU [62kb]

 Vietnamese Letter A General advisory letter to parents and carers (Sept) G140914 VIETNAMESE [61kb]  Vietnamese Letter B (no restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 VIETNAMESE [61kb]  Vietnamese Letter B (Restrictions) Parent and carers of contacts (v2) G140914 VIETNAMESE [62kb]

• Public Health Q&A for Parents, Carers and Pupils - 3 September 2020

Our Education Director spoke to Linda de Caestecker, Public Health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to offer advice and Reassurance. Watch the Q&A's below.



 

• Coronavirus and schools - frequently asked questions - 28 August 2020

We've published an up-to-date FAQs to help our schools and families find out information about the virus and children, testing and schools with answers from the Director of Public Health for Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

 Public Health and Education FAQs [299kb]
 

• NHSGGC Letter to parents about testing for coronavirus

A letter is being sent to all parents and carers of school childing in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area from Dr Linda De Caestecker - Director of Public Health with important information on when to ask for a test and how to do this.

 NHS Parent and carers' testing information letter [63kb]

Scotland's National Clinical Director, Jason Leitch, has also given advice to parents and carers on what to do if a child shows symptoms of another viral infection, such as the common cold.

 Coronavirus - Jason Leitch Letter on testing and common colds - 31 August 2020 [172kb]