School’s lockdown book gets released

‘The Willesborough Way’ proves a success

A primary school has published a record of what its pupils have been up to over the tough last year in lockdown.

Willesborough Infant and Junior Schools have detailed the unique 12 months in a new book entitled ‘Lockdown Learning – The Willesborough Way’.

The 350-page book, published by the Unicorn Publishing Group, is a celebration of the resilience of pupils, staff and parents as they adjusted to the new way of learning.

Emails, YouTube videos and telephone calls all became the new normal when the first lockdown was announced a year ago, and the book is hoped to serve as a memento for those who went through it.

Parent Lucie Skilton, who came up with the idea, said: “Last year will go down in history and we wanted to produce something to remind the children and their families of some of the positives that came out of this extraordinary time.”

Every child in school was invited to submit a piece of work for entry into the book.

These range from diary entries to paintings and drawings, as well as records of acts of kindness, photographs of their gardening and baking, and their posters for NHS workers.

Fran Rusbridge, executive head teacher of the Willesborough schools, said: “This is an incredible achievement for the Willesborough School community.

“Every page in this wonderful book serves as an inspiration to us all, showing how we can all shine through the most challenging of times.”

The schools are grateful for the support they’ve received from the community, with Ashford’s Kall Kwik printers providing graphic design help and Willesborough Co-op nominating the schools’ book as its chosen charity project.

The finished product – which features work from 650 children – was printed and delivered to the school just before Christmas, and feedback has been extremely positive.

Danielle, a parent of three children at the schools, said: “I was absolutely amazed when I saw the Willesborough book. It is lovely and so well presented.

“It is definitely a treasure which will be passed down to future generations.

“I am very proud that my children attend a school with such a hard-working, dedicated team of staff that make the school community feel like a family.”

Year 6 pupil Macey said: “I am so proud that I was able to be a part of this book.”

The book is available from the school, priced at £15.

The pupils of Willesborough Junior School were excited to get their hands on the unique book