Arrangements have been put in place for 5900 pupils affected by the closure of 17 schools in Edinburgh, according to the city council.

All primary and special school pupils have now resumed lessons, either in their own school or at another location.

The majority of secondary pupils have also returned to class as the council continues to make arrangements for the remaining children.

About 7600 pupils missed out on lessons after the announcement on Friday that the schools would not reopen as planned after the Easter break because of concerns about their construction.

Work is continuing to identify faults in the buildings, with the council warning some schools could be affected for "the long term".

The majority of the 2000 pupils preparing for exams at the five high schools involved resumed lessons on Wednesday, although the council has revealed practical exams due to take place have been postponed.

Pupils in S3 returned to classes on Thursday, and the council announced arrangements have been made for youngsters from five primaries - Broomhouse, St Joseph's, Forthview, Pirniehall and St David's - to attend alternative venues from next Tuesday.

Work is continuing to make arrangements for some remaining S1 to S3 pupils who have not yet been able to return to lessons.

Council leader Andrew Burns said: "I'm delighted we have now been able to put in place arrangements for our primary, special school and majority of secondary pupils. Work is continuing to accommodate our S1, S2 and S3 pupils."

While he said the exercise has been a "huge logistical challenge for the council", he added staff and children at other schools "have been welcoming the additional pupils and their teachers".

The schools were all built or refurbished under the same PPP scheme around ten years ago by Edinburgh Schools Partnership, which last week revealed it was unable to provide safety assurances for the premises, sparking the closures.

The council has now "received early indications that suggest evidence of faults across all 17 affected schools to a varying extent", Mr Burns said.

He added: "At the moment it is too early to say what the impact will be as full survey results from Edinburgh Schools Partnership have not been yet been received.

"Some faults may be easy to fix and may not present a major problem while others could be longer term.

"We will provide parents with further information on the impact of individual school surveys once the full reports are received and assessed.

"What is certain is that we won't take risks with the safety of our schoolchildren and schools won't reopen until Edinburgh Schools Partnership can assure us of their safety.

"As part of the contract, Edinburgh Schools Partnership own, maintain and assure the safety of the affected buildings."

Earlier, Mr Burns revealed the council had not inspected the schools when their construction was completed as the consortium that carried out the work self-certified they met "all the relevant building standards".

The Labour councillor told BBC Radio Scotland: "Under the regulations in place at the time ... Edinburgh Schools Partnership and its agents self-certified to the council, as they were entitled to do so, that the buildings complied with all the relevant building standards."

When asked if Edinburgh Schools Partnership had been negligent, Mr Burns said: "That will come out in due course."

He insisted the council "will be making sure whoever is responsible for this is held to account".

Reverend Gayle Taylor, who is the chaplain to Braidburn special needs school and two other primaries, said the closures had a negative impact on disabled youngsters.

Ms Taylor, who is also a part-time counsellor at Firrhill High School, said: "When we think of schools we instantly think of the education side. We think about the books, the subjects and what the pupils are learning.

"But being part of the pastoral support team in schools, I know how much support young people get from the social side of schools and the relationships they have there. Young people just don't manage as well without those anchors."