Fife schools' Christmas holidays set to be extended

Fife Council is seeking to close schools for an extra day after Christmas following an eleventh-hour offer from the Scottish Government.

The local authority said it had received an offer from ministers late last night to apply for an "exceptional closure day" on Wednesday January 6.

That was meant to be the date children of key workers were set to return to school.

The council says it will contact parents and carers directly to discuss the impact of the additional holiday.

"Late last night the Scottish Government advised that we could apply for an exceptional closure day for schools on Wednesday, January 6," a statement issued today read.

"Fife Council has now applied for this and parents and carers will be contacted directly with any new information."

New guidance was published shortly after 8pm last night by the Scottish Government which advises that councils can apply for the extra holiday if "strictly necessary" to continue planning for the safe return of vulnerable children and kids of key workers.

Education secretary John Swinney said the measures - which had not been publicised prior to being published - were designed "to allow an assessment of community transmission after the festive period."

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Asked for comment, a Scottish Government spokeswoman referred to the guidance.

Under plans announced on Saturday, schools across Scotland including in Fife will be closed to most children until January 18. Remote learning is set to begin for most on January 11, with only vulnerable children and those of key workers being allowed into school from the start of term on January 6.

However, this could now move to January 7 following Fife Council's application to ministers for the exceptional additional day off.

Council co-leaders David Alexander and David Ross have urged the public to "stick with it" as mainland Scotland enters Level 4 restrictions.

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