Although schools closed for normal business on Friday March 20 due to coronavirus, learning is continuing for thousands of young people across Dundee.
An important step forward for senior pupils in secondary schools begins this week (from Monday May 4) when timetables change to include recent course choices.
Pupils from S3 onwards will be starting a new school year in a range of subjects, and teaching staff will also be getting in touch with young people to assist with the transition.
This change demonstrates how learning and teaching in Dundee has transformed to meet the challenges posed by coronavirus closures.
Schools are now using online resources and staff are working to help ensure as much continuity in young people’s learning as possible.
From nurseries onwards, educational establishments are keeping families informed through Twitter feeds, which are showing them the huge range of educational assets that are available.
Many of these have now been gathered together in an online learning hub at: https://sites.google.com/dd.glow.scot/dundeeonlinelearninghub/home
Meanwhile, the council has dedicated a website page to highlight school changes, at https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/service-area/children-and-families-service/schools-information
For those families who do not have online access, learning packs are being made available on request.
Eight school buildings across Dundee have been turned into Community Support Centres, providing childcare and meals for the children of key workers, as well as some of the most vulnerable young people in the city.
Activities including sessions from the instrumental music service are also being provided at the centres.
Meanwhile, a working group is being set to look at issues like transitions, placing requests and admissions and to make sure that the views of children and their parents can be heard.
It will reflect on the experience of children and young people, families and staff during lockdown and concerns about the progress of children’s learning.
The group will also assist those children with additional support needs.
City council children and families convener Councillor Stewart Hunter is praising families and school staff for their efforts during the crisis.
He said: “I have been hugely impressed by the creativity and enthusiasm that has been shown by all our nursery and school staff during the school closures. Through innovative and imaginative use of technology and online resources, as well as paper versions, they are keeping up learning and a sense of belonging.
“This is helping children and families get through these difficult times.
“The timetable change in secondary school will help give these young people a sense of momentum on their educational journey and I would like to thank everyone who has helped to make the arrangements and put them in place.
“I am aware that there is anxiety around what will be happening around exam results, but I would ask that everyone waits until the SQA completes its process around these matters.
“We want to reassure everyone that we are carefully thinking now about the way ahead.
“The council, alongside nurseries and schools, will continue to keep families informed about developments.”
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%.
