A plan to ‘pandemic proof’ schools has been published by Scottish Labour.

The party wants to see interventions like more testing and booster jags for staff to prevent further disruption to learning next term.

The plan includes school staff included as a priority in any booster vaccine programme, increasing testing in schools to monitor the prevalence of the virus and classroom ventilation inspection programme and active ventilation in all classrooms that require it.

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Scottish Labour said there is a need to provide clarity to schools, their staff, pupils and their families regarding the return to school after the Summer break, and the Party’s plans criticise the lack of leadership and clarity from the Scottish Government.

Michael Marra Scottish Labour, education spokesman, said: “Scotland is now four weeks from the start of the new school term and none of the strategic decisions necessary have been communicated to education authorities, headteachers and parents.

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“Clear and timely communication is vital if we are to avoid the chaos that has marked the Scottish Government’s handling of education throughout the pandemic.

“We must always be guided by the science, and these additional measures are based on lessons learned during the pandemic so far.

“From testing, to vaccines and ventilation, this is a robust plan of action. Not only is it necessary to first and foremost keep pupils and staff safe, but it will also help reduce the disruption to schooling which has been significant since the outbreak of Covid-19.”

Meanwhile the EIS Scotland’s biggest teaching union has called for secondary school children to be given the covid vaccine.

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The number of under 20s being infected is increasing,according tot he official data and the rise is leading to a record number of Covid hospital admissions among this age group.

Larry Flannagan, General Secretary of the EIS, has raised the matter with the Scottish Government Through the Covid Education Recovery Group.

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He said he would like all teenagers in high school to be offered the jag to protect them, to stop any spread to teachers and to minimise disruption to pupils’ education.

He said: “There will be teachers who are going back in August who haven’t been double jagged.

“They will be at risk and if they end up going off that will impact on education.

“Given the risks that the virus presents the voluntary vaccination of secondary school pupils seems like a sensible step. We are in favour of vaccination being offered.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are providing the vaccine to people on a priority basis as set out by the independent expert clinicians and scientists on the JCVI.

“Current JCVI advice does not cover vaccination in those under 18 years old. So far only 16 and 17 years olds in groups 1-9 are covered.”

The latest statistics for Covid show that 2,048 new cases were ported reported, 11% of all tests.

There were 444 people in hospital and 40 patients were in intensive care with the virus.

Humza Yousaf, Health Secretary said: “From the data I have seen over the last week - optimistically, I think we can say we are past the worst of the peak, this particular peak.

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“Now that doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be another peak in the future but we’re beginning to see a stabilisation and beginning to see the cases level off.

“Still very high I must say, but we’re beginning to see a positive trend.”

Nicola Sturgeon is due to announce the next changes to covid restrictions tomorrow.