Dounby School faces staffing challenge

The Head Teacher at Dounby Community School has commended parents for their overwhelming support following the partial closure of the school on Monday and Tuesday this week in the face of staffing challenges.

Sickness absence, including COVID-19-related positive cases, has led to the shutdown of three classes - P3/4, P4/5 and P5/6 – and those children are accessing learning from home. Three classes – P1, P2/3 and P7 - and the nursery remain open.

It is anticipated that the school will be able to reopen again in full from Wednesday 2 February – however this will be confirmed tomorrow.

Miss Gibson has been meeting with representatives from the Education Service and Public Health on a daily basis and this will continue as required.

She has also been communicating directly with families on the ever-evolving situation and is heartened by the support shown.

“We are confident that the home learning on offer to our 3 classes is working well for families at this time. Part of our meeting involved planning for the rest of this week, and I will be writing out to everyone as soon as is possible tomorrow to let parents know what we hope we can provide across the remainder of this week,” Miss Gibson said.

“It has been an exceptionally tough day for staff and a tricky balance in terms of in class teaching and making sure we have learning going home, so I thank all from the bottom of my heart for the understanding as we all try to get to grips with our new normal for today and tomorrow. To say the team at Dounby have rallied is nowhere near thanks enough.”

OIC Executive Director of Education, Leisure and Housing, James Wylie, added: “The school is experiencing a high number of teaching and support staff absences due to sickness which includes COVID, and this is now coupled with an increasing number of pupils being off across some of the classes too.

“Whilst there are 31 reported COVID-positive LFD and PCR cases within the staff and pupils at the school, it is the combination of all the sickness absences that has led to this decision. We are looking to all measures to try and ensure the school can operate in full from Wednesday, and this will be communicated tomorrow.

“Please be assured that we are doing everything we possibly can to get back to normal as soon as possible. I want to also commend the Head Teacher and her team for stepping up in these difficult circumstances.”

Despite a relaxation of restrictions nationwide, it remains vital for everyone to continue carrying out lateral flow tests and to report the result, whether positive, negative or void.  Just visit: www.nhsinform.scot.