A PRIMARY school which has been shut since last Tuesday, when pupils were evacuated due to a gas leak, may not reopen this week.

Youngsters at St Gabriel’s Primary School in Prestonpans were split between the Pennypit Centre, nearby Preston Tower Primary School and Cockenzie Primary School today (Monday).

And East Lothian Council has now confirmed that arrangement is set to remain in place throughout this week.

A spokesperson for the local authority told the Courier: “SGN teams remain on site at St Gabriel’s campus and the area surrounding it continuing with their investigations.

“Until these conclude, we cannot safely return to the building.

“In the meantime, we have requested that families continue with today’s arrangements for the rest of the week to provide them with certainty.

“Our council teams are on standby to move into the building as soon as it is possible and complete the reinstatement of services and necessary cleaning should it be available before Friday.

“While nursery will not open on Tuesday, we are at an advanced stage of planning for a return on Wednesday and will inform parents tomorrow on what this looks like for their children.

“We want to ensure all children have the same high-quality early learning and childcare arrangements that they would receive at St Gabriel’s.

“We are grateful for the support families have shown the school during this unusual period.”

READ MORE: St Gabriel's Primary School to remain closed on Friday

Emergency gas works have been carried out by SGN on the school grounds and neighbouring South Grange Avenue.

Residents of two homes were also evacuated along with the schoolchildren.

Alex Buchanan, headteacher at the school and nursery, has written to parents and carers about the ongoing situation.

He said: “Work is ongoing on site by SGN.

“We continue to meet with them for updates on work and likely timescales when we can safely return to the building.

“The company has advised it is too early to say when the work will conclude, but, to avoid further disruption to you and provide you with certainty, we have decided that alternative arrangements which started today will remain in place for the rest of this week.

READ MORE: St Gabriel's Primary School to remain shut on Monday

“Our teams are on standby to move into the building as soon as it is possible and complete the reinstatement of services and necessary cleaning should it be available before Friday.

“We will let you know if this is to be the case.

“However in the meantime, please continue with today’s arrangements for the rest of the week.”

Further details are being ironed out in relation to the school’s nursery.

Mr Buchanan added: “We know that nursery parents are keen to have the details for their own children’s attendance confirmed.

“Nursery will remain closed tomorrow but will open on Wednesday. We will update nursery families directly tomorrow.

“We want to ensure that the arrangements we put in place work for all of our learners and particularly our youngest children.

“We are moving this forward as a priority so we can provide you with the high-quality early learning and childcare you are used to from the team at St Gabriel’s in a different space.”