Some school staff ‘will need to attend’

School catering and janitorial staff across Tayside have been told they will still need to attend work during lockdown.

Tayside Contracts, who provide the services across the region, confirmed that non-teaching staff will be needed on site to provide for the children of key workers.

The contractor for the three council areas of Dundee, Angus and Pe r t h and Kinross believe their staff are needed at schools to help maintain hygiene levels in the buildings.

Catering and maintenance staff attended work yesterday as confusion mounted over whether or not teachers would be needed in school during the second lockdown.

A spokesperson for Tayside Contracts said: “Although schools are closed for face-to-face learning for most pupils until the end of January, Ta y s i d e Contracts’ catering and facility maintenance services are vital to ensure that vulnerable children and children of key workers who will attend school during lockdown will be provided with healthy and nutritious meals.

“And, of course, more importantly than ever, they will be attending schools that are kept scrupulously clean, safe and hygienic.”

However they did state that they were asking all other staff who could work from home to do so.

“Tayside Contracts provides services to meet the requirements of our clients, predominantly the constituent councils of Tayside.

“Based on client requirements at present, all Tayside Contracts employees have been advised that if they are scheduled to work they must do so if they are fit and able – and, where possible, must do so from home.”