Be back to school
gered start and break times and installing hand-sanitising stations.
Mr Wallis-Clarke said: “The school looks very different – we’ve reduced the class sizes and rearranged the furniture and resources so that children have their own space.
“The children are adapting to it very quickly, and some of them seem to be enjoying it.
“I was thrilled when they came back. Like all teachers we were desperate to get schools back to normal for as many children as we can.
“The parents were absolutely delighted – I appreciate there was some initial anxiety but we’ve had some lovely emails from parents thanking us for being able to do it, and with a sensible approach.”
The parents at the school gates on Tuesday agreed, saying they felt it was time for their children to go back.
Lydia McCaslin said her son Joseph was “very pleased to be back”. She said: “I felt he needed to return to school, for his mental health and well-being.
“He came home buzzing, telling me all about his day. It was clearly the right thing to do for him.”
Jo Lane, whose daughter is in Year 6 at the school, said: “The kids were very excited – they were ready to go back.
“Kids adapt really well – if you give them boundaries, they get on with it.
“In a school, you know you’ve got to follow rules anyway.”
Maya Jenson, 10, said: “It’s good to be back. I was looking forward to seeing my friends again.”
On the changes to the school day, Lily Kellett, 11, added: “I think lining up feels weird, because you have to stand apart.
“We’ve washed our hands eight times today as well.”