PARENTS could be forced to keep children at home over the next two days if last-ditch talks between Scottish government officials and teaching unions fail to prevent strikes shutting down schools. 

Teaching staff are due to walk out of Scottish primaries today and secondaries tomorrow as members of NASUWT, the Educational Institute of Scotland and the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association demand an end to real-terms pay cuts.

Following talks on Friday, described as “constructive and helpful” by SNP Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, discussions were due to continue yesterday, just hours before industrial action, which launched in November, is scheduled to continue.