Angry parents have demanded answers after being told their schools would not return yesterday – less than 12 hours before children were expected to arrive.
Highland Council issued a letter at 9.30pm on Tuesday advising that due to issues relating to enhanced cleaning and staffing issues, eight schools would not open.
The eight schools affected were Knockbreck Primary School on Skye, Kyle Primary, Kyleakin Primary, Mallaig Primary, Rum Primary, Shieldaig Primary, Tarbat Old Primary and Tore Primary, with Rosebank Primary Nursery also impacted.
One parent, Andrew Kerr from Portmahomack, said the last-minute communication from the local authority was “inexcusable”.
He said: “We have been working on the understanding that our daughter and her school mates would be back today for the past five or six weeks so to find out by e-mail late on Tuesday is just completely unacceptable.
“I could almost understand and accept it if they had told us earlier and said at some point sooner that there was a possibility that this might not happen.
“I had to wake up my daughter and tell her that she wasn’t going to go back to school.
“She actually thought the teachers were unwell but when I explained the council hadn’t managed to get the building ready she was angry – and rightly so.
“Somebody in the council knew there was a possibility that this school and the other schools weren’t going to open today and to leave it as late as they did is shocking.”
In the letter, council chief executive Donna Manson told parents she had only learnt of the delay an hour before.
Last night council leader Margaret Davidson assured parents the affected schools would be ready for opening in the next “day or two”.
She added: “Enhanced cleaning must be in place in all schools as the safety and wellbeing of children and staff is absolutely paramount.
“We must remember that we are dealing with unprecedented times and exceptional circumstances beyond our control.”
In total 197 pupils and 59 nursery children were affected.
Meanwhile, in schools which pupils did return to the classroom, excitement was met with concern.
At Crown Primary School in Inverness, parents were thankful for support during the pandemic.
Kendra Cullen, whose daughter Chloe was starting primary one, said: “I am very happy, not only for us but for her as well as she has got friends to see and play with.
“I trust the school that they are doing everything they can to keep the kids safe.”
Lindsay Dunbar, whose daughter Millie was starting primary three, expressed caution.
She said: “Before the summer holidays, I would have said I was totally fine with it, but because of what has happened in Aberdeen with the lockdown, and the close relationships between Inverness and Aberdeen, I am a wee bit wary now over what might be happening.
“The school has done all they can possibly do.
“None of us know what this is really, so it is all educated guesswork.”
At Merkinch Primary School, parent Lisa Harkness said: “Education is really important so I don’t think schools should have been shut.
“I’m not nervous about them going back.”
Mike Webster, whose son Harris entered S1 at Milburn Academy, admitted he had some minor concerns but said: “I think with coronavirus it is always going to be a question of when is the right time to go back?
“I think when kids are going back whilst there still are cases, people need to be vigilant.
“Parents, as much as we are expecting teachers to be smart about it, we need to be smart about it as well.”