End of Term Message from Convener

Published

25th June 2021

Dundee City Council children and families service convener Stewart Hunter is sending an end of term message to Dundee pupils, parents and carers ahead of the start of the school summer holidays. 

Councillor Hunter is using the opportunity to call on everyone to keep playing their part to suppress coronavirus so that schools can resume in August. 

He said: “The last three months have been among the most difficult in living memory and the pandemic has had a huge impact on education. Families have done so much to support their children’s learning during this time. I would like to thank them for all their efforts, which cannot be underestimated. 

“Teachers and school staff created learning imaginative learning packages, along with innovative digital delivery platforms, which went a long way to help children and young people. 

“Although this was no substitute for teacher-led classroom learning, the enterprise shown under challenging circumstances to encourage our pupils deserves to be highlighted. 

“We are now fully focused on a return to schools from August 11 and the council is working with the Scottish Government, trade unions, parent councils and staff to achieve this. 

“Everyone in Dundee can play a part in helping ensure that schools can reopen by continuing to take action to prevent coronavirus spreading. There has been tremendous responsibility shown so far and I am sure that will continue as we ease our way out of lockdown. 

“Our network of community support centres will keep operating over the summer, providing critical childcare for key workers as well as support for some of the city’s most vulnerable children. The staff working in them have made a significant contribution during the pandemic.” 

Information about the return of schools will be published on Dundee City Council’s website where an FAQ page has been developed.  The council will be also be distributing the latest information through its Twitter(link is external) and Facebook(link is external) pages. 

Councillor Hunter added:  “After what will have been five months out of school for pupils, we will look to stagger start times and ensure that all young people and staff are safe. We will make sure that families are updated with this information as soon as it becomes available. 

“Parents and carers will have received plans for blended learning from their schools, which have been sent to you by your school will only be used as a back-up in case the situation around coronavirus changes for the worse. 

“Life will be transforming for everyone over the course of July and I am hopeful that the reopening of schools by August will show us all the progress we have made against coronavirus.”  

Dundee City Council

Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.

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