THE danger of Scotland’s teens not being at school outweighs the risks of the coronavirus, the Scottish Government’s scientific advisers have said.

In guidance published yesterday they warned that schools closures and social distancing had put “academic learning, peer relationships, safety, wellbeing and mental health” at risk.

They urged ministers to allow primary and secondary school pupils to return to class full-time next month – but only if the virus remains suppressed.

Education Minister John Swinney is due to make a statement to Parliament next week to set out what the Government will do.

In the new guidance, his advisers said that while the “balance of the evidence” was that no distancing should be required between children in P1 to P7, the science was a little “less clear for older pupils”.

However, given that children “rely on social interaction with their peers to meet their broad developmental needs including learning, wellbeing and positive mental health outcomes” they recommended secondary schools also go back with no social distancing.

“The effectiveness of mitigations and the benefits to young people of being able to attend school” outweighed the risk, the advisers said.

Only 151 of the 18,365 coronavirus cases confirmed in Scotland have been in people aged under 15 and, the paper says, it looks as if “the role of children in transmission appears to be limited, both between children and from children to adults”.

Schools have been closed for the best part of four months, and the scientists warned that any catching up would need to go beyond the academic.

“Learning loss will be felt by all children and all age groups but is particularly significant for secondary school pupils and for children from high-poverty settings,” they said.

The advisers added that any focus on “targeting the learning loss” should look beyond “literacy and numeracy attainment” and at “creating the conditions for learning by focusing on children’s social, emotional, health and wellbeing”.

Other key recommendations in the report includes “increased emphasis” on hand hygiene and surface cleaning throughout the day.

It also cautions against school activities such as drama and gym classes, assemblies and choirs being immediately reintroduced, while large gatherings and crowded spaces should also be avoided as much as possible.

The scientists also recommend pupils are kept “within the same groups for the duration of the school day” and that “sharing of equipment/utensils/toys/books should be minimised”.

Schools should also take a “zero-tolerance” approach to coronavirus symptoms and strictly comply with the Government’s Test and Protect contact tracing system.

Dedicated school transport, such as a school bus, would be considered an “extension of the school estate” where distancing measures were not required.

If pupils use public transport, then government guidance on physical distancing must be followed and face-coverings remain mandatory for everyone aged over five.

Swinney said: “We are considering this advice as we develop comprehensive guidance which will give confidence to our school communities that the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and staff is ensured as we welcome them back.”

The EIS teachers’ union said “significant discussion” was still required before schools could re-open.

General Secretary Larry Flanagan called for more “pro-active testing of school communities”.

This, he said, should include “senior pupils, who are young adults rather than children”.

He added, “Beyond the immediate issue of how schools re-open is the equally critical question of how schools will be resourced to support the educational recovery of pupils. We need more teachers and more support staff.”