SCHOOL chiefs are making a back-up plan in case pupils are not allowed to make a full return on August 11.

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) says it hopes coronavirus will be sufficiently suppressed to allow children to go back to classrooms as normal.

But officials are drawing up a “Plan B” in case the Scottish Government calls for part-time attendance.

SBC chief executive Tracey Logan said: “We must ensure that we have the necessary contingency plans - ‘Plan B’ - ready to implement if a full return is not possible.

“We have been working on these extremely complex plans for a number of weeks now and are making very good progress.”

The council’s back-up plan would be based on the two-metre distancing rule, according to officials.

The Scottish Government previously told councils to start preparing for “blended learning”, which would have meant pupils only attend classes on a part-time basis.

But Nicola Sturgeon recently unveiled new plans, saying she hopes all children will be able to attend school full-time, without social-distancing, if COVID-19 continues to be suppressed.

This is Tracey Logan’s full statement

“We all hope that COVID-19 will be sufficiently suppressed enough to allow the Scottish Government to confirm that it is safe for every young person across the country to attend school full time in August.

“This is our ‘Plan A’ and we are developing the necessary arrangements for it as there will undoubtedly still be measures required in all our education settings to minimise the risk of COVID-19 to our young people and staff.

“However, we must ensure that we have the necessary contingency plans – ‘Plan B’ - ready to implement if a full return is not possible.

“We have been working on these extremely complex plans for a number of weeks now and are making very good progress.

“Should there be no decision before 13 July by the Scottish Government on the arrangements for schools reopening on 11 August we will provide the detail of our Plan B contingency plan to parents.

“This will provide four weeks’ notice to enable parents to make any necessary arrangements around childcare etc as there would be a degree of home-learning required in these plans.

“In all our planning our focus is on being able to deliver learning in-school safely for pupils and staff and, as part of Plan B, a blended learning offer that supports the learning needs of every pupil and helps them to achieve their learning targets.”