Following the First Minister’s announcement on Saturday about new coronavirus restrictions, Dundee nurseries and schools are now preparing for changed arrangements for education after New Year.
Nurseries and schools will only be open from what would have been the start of term from Thursday January 7 2021 for children of key workers and vulnerable children.
The details of key workers who used the Community Support Centres system for childcare during lockdown have been retained by nurseries and schools, therefore those places continue to be available from January 7.
Meanwhile, those parents who regard their employment to have changed from the summer to now have key worker status are being urged to contact their head teacher to discuss a place for their children. They are being asked to do this before the end of term at 12 noon on Wednesday (Dec 23).
Vulnerable families will be contacted directly by their nursery or school.
The festive holiday is being extended for all other pupils until Monday January 11 2021.
From then, they will stay at home as remote learning is provided by their nursery or school until at least Monday January 18.
Nurseries and schools will be confirming these arrangements before the end of term on Wednesday.
City council children and families convener Stewart Hunter said: “While these changes must be frustrating for families, I hope that everyone can understand that we must do all we can to guard against the new strain of coronavirus.
“It is vital that we can provide childcare for key workers and those who used Community Support Centres during the original lockdown and the summer holidays will have a place.I would ask other people to think carefully about this resource and that it is only key workers who request places.”
Councillor Hunter continued: “This week, nurseries and schools will be explaining directly to children and families exactly what forms of remote learning will be available and how children and young people can continue their learning while they stay at home from January 11.
“Nurseries will also provide activities for young children for that period.
“We will give further information to families about the return to nursery and school when this is available.
“In the meantime, I hope that everyone can enjoy this very different Christmas and stick with the guidance to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.”
Due to the changed arrangements, admissions dates for all young children who were due to start a Local Authority nursery for the first time in January 2021 will now be re-arranged and families will be contacted directly.
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%.
