Approach for schools

Staff in individual buildings

THERE will be no “onesize-fits-a ll” approach to getting children back into Dundee schools after lockdown, according to city education bosses.

Staff at schools across the city are beginning preparations to welcome back pupils in August and plans are being drawn up to transform the learning environments into places where children and teachers can maintain social distancing.

Audrey May, chief education officer at Dundee City Council, said: “From June 15 the schools will be open for staff, so in the two weeks from then until the summer break they will be preparing for the pupils coming back in August.

“In these two weeks, the only children likely to come into the school are small groups of those pupils in key transitional stages changes that will have to be faced, the council’s chief education officer said schools would be ready and flexible in their approach.

Ms May said: “Being back in school will be a challenge for kids and teachers so we will need to readjust. For the younger children, it will be more challenging to manage but we have to ensure the buildings are set up in such a way that we can maintain social distancing. We have to remind young people these are the new ways and that’s what teachers do anyway.”

The council is also keen to include the wider community in the planning involved in getting the schools ready and is keeping the lines of communication open for parents and families to contribute their own ideas to the process.

“There’s been really productive talks with the parents and kids as well so we need to maintain this going forward,” Mr Hunter added.