Machibet777 LiveThousands of kids in Scotland must wear face masks in communal areas from today as new rule comes into force | The Sun - Machibet777 Login

THOUSANDS of pupils returned to school in Scotland wearing face masks as new rules came into force today.

The measures are in place in communal areas and corridors but kids won't have to wear face coverings in classrooms.

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A boy gives a thumbs-up as he and his friends wear masks for the first time in schoolCredit: Getty Images - Getty

A pupil at Rosshall Academy wears a colourful face covering as new rules are enforced todayCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Pupils wear face masks as they sit in class at Springburn Academy school in Glasgow Credit: © Andy Buchann

Secondary schools will be obligated to provide guidance to all pupils but the

Kids who don't wear a face covering will not be excluded from school.

states: "Face coverings should not generally be required in classrooms or other learning and teaching environments.

"However, face coverings should be worn by adults where they cannot keep 2m distance and are interacting face-to-face for a sustained period (about 15 minutes or more) with other adults and/or children and young people."

The guidance has also been extended to school transport, which includes primary and secondary school pupils over five in Scotland.

It says they should be worn (unless exempt): "in line with the current arrangements for public transport, where adults and children and young people aged 5 and over are travelling on dedicated school transport."

If there is a local cluster incident management teams, councils or schools may also ask kids to wear them in the classroom.

Teachers have the right to wear face masks in schools if they want to but it's not mandatory.

However, they should wear a mask if they are unable to social distance from pupils and other teachers and are interacting with them for 15 minutes or more.

Pupils who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability are also exempt from the rule.

Mask U-turn

Last week the Government announced a U-turn on masks in schools.

The U-turn came just 24 hours after No10 ruled out making them compulsory for pupils.

The Department for Education said for most areas of England it is keeping its guidance against using face coverings - but schools will be able to make their own decision whether to ask pupils and staff to wear them.

Students over the age of 11 will have to wear masks in corridors and communal areas while at schools in areas with high coronavirus transmission levels.

Head teachers in any secondary school will also have the power to introduce masks in their schools.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson says this follows updated advice from the World Health Organisation.

Mr Williamson said: "At each stage we have listened to the latest medical and scientific advice."

Yesterday a poll revealed that a huge 98 percent of sun readers vowed to send their kids back to school this week.