The council is planning for the safe return of children and young people to Largs Campus and other primary schools in the district next month.

Education chiefs have launched a robust plan which sets out its approach to restoring face to face teaching, continuing at home learning and delivering childcare for vulnerable children and families of key workers.

The Scottish government’s aspiration is for schools and centres to be able to re-open fully from August, provided that a set of criteria is met, including infection rates and protection measures.

Councillor John Bell, Cabinet Member for Education, North Ayrshire Council, said: “Our hope, like that of the Deputy First Minister, is that resumption of full-time education can commence for North Ayrshire’s children and young people in August. Of course, the safety of our children and staff remains our highest priority and any change to our contingency plans will be dependent on Scottish Government guidance updated regularly over the summer.

The First Minister confirmed that the Scottish Government will now review the scientific assumptions underpinning education recovery as part of their statutory 3-weekly process.