Kirkcaldy parents prepare to send kids back to school

With lockdown easing and life slowly returning to the new normal, parents across Fife are set to send their children back to school.

After months of home schooling and then the long summer holidays, it means a return to classrooms for the first time since March.

Chris Bray, whose son Jayden (9) will be starting P6 at Sinclairtown Primary said: “It wasn’t too hard to get Jayden to do the schoolwork during lockdown. We never sat for hours doing the work – maybe one or two hours a day.

“I am glad that he is going back to school. With lockdown we have not been able to go anywhere, and he has not been able to go out and play with his pals – with things easing he has been able to get out and play which has been good for him.

“Jayden seems quite happy about returning to school. He has the same teacher as last year so he is chuffed with that.

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/work-begins-new-community-centre-kirkcaldy-2932780

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/bikers-pay-tribute-kennoway-captain-who-died-falklands-war-2933302

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/serious-impact-finances-fifes-leisure-centres-remain-closed-2933659

“He has never really shown any worries about the coronavirus. He has asked a few questions but we haven’t had any problems."

Even though Chris is happy that Jayden is finally returning to school, he has some concerns about how it will be able to maintain effective social-distancing.He said: “I honestly don’t know how the school is going to manage to keep all the kids apart, especially when they are playing sports.

“Learning wise, because of lockdown, I think that it might have set some kids back a bit, but I personally think Jayden’s reading has improved during lockdown.

“Overall, I’m not really worried about him returning to school. He will get straight back to it and it will be like nothing has happened at all – it hasn’t phased him at all.”

Sarah Rutherford’s children, Emily (6) and Rhyda (3) return to Kirkcaldy West Primary – Emily into P3 and Rhyda back to nursery.

During lockdown they worked on learning packs issued by the school .

Sarah said: “Kirkcaldy West has been absolutely brilliant through all of the lockdown – it has really gone out of its way to help.

“It has been challenging as Emily is six going on 16 and has been protesting about doing the schoolwork!”

Sarah has some concerns about her kids going back to school with the virus still impacting.

“Throughout lockdown we have been socially-distancing, but there are other people who have not. There have been kids out playing all throughout.

“Emily has been upset asking why she can’t go out and play when other children are out – all of these kids go to her school.

“I think she has become less social during lockdown, but, hopefully she will bounce back when she starts back.

“Rhyda, on the other hand is so excited to go back to nursery. He has been asking everyday about it and can’t wait to see his friends.

“As far as the school goes with social-distancing, I think they will manage it very well and I know that the teachers at Kirkcaldy West will look after their social needs as well.”

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspapers - the Fife Free Press, Fife Herald, St Andrews Citizen and East Fife Mail.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Allan Crow, Editor, Fife Free Press