The day our schools reopened
AS CHILDREN in Wales returned to school for the first time in three months yesterday, pupils and their parents told of their mix of happiness and apprehension at returning during a pandemic.
Much has changed since they were last in a classroom, back in March, before the lockdown came into force to try and stem the tide of coronavirus.
Now, a quarter of a year later, only a limited number of children have been allowed back at any one time, in a bid to what the Welsh Government has described as “check in, catch up and prepare”.
All schools will have social-distancing restrictions and classrooms look very different to how they were prelockdown.
At St Richard Gwyn Catholic High in Barry, Year 10 pupil Leanne Lorio, 15, was sitting at a school desk for the first time in three months.
She described being back as “very surreal” after so long away.
“I have missed my friends the most,” she said.
“That’s what you look forward to. “It’s been quite bearable working in my room at home. I can get on with my work, but it is hard finding motivation. My work ethic has collapsed. I would be lying if I said I was not worried about my GCSEs. It’s still uncertain.
“We are going to have the work piled on to us now.”
At the school gate, Kate Harris was dropping off her 15-year-old son Daniel.
Daniel and her two other children, aged 14 and 10, have all been doing schoolwork from home – but Kate said they need to be back at school now.
“In May I would have been very apprehensive but I am confident with the steps the school has taken,” she said. “I have three children doing school work from home so the biggest challenge has been the WiFi.
“I am worried about Daniel’s GCSEs because on so many levels the exams are important. I know the staff and professionals will do the best they can.”
After finishing her first session back at school for three months Phoebe White, 15, year 10 pupil at Stanwell School, Penarth, admitted she had been nervous coming in after so long away but had enjoyed it and was pleased to be back.
“This morning we had a mental health and wellbeing lesson which was good because we talked about how we were feeling with the teacher and it was good to know you were not alone. Then we had a Welsh lesson. It was good to have a teacher and interact because I have found it quite difficult working alone from home. I do like school and being away has been difficult.”
Over in Caerphilly, after his 45-minute stint at St Martin’s, Evan Pronger, 12, was happy to have gone back in, even if it was just for a short time.
“It was alright, we didn’t really do much but it was worth us being there,” he said. “Just seeing my teacher, Miss Hill was nice.
Evan said his group talked about how their lockdown had been and their health.
“It was nice to be in a different environment. I never really thought I’d enjoy being back to school,” he added.
“I’m not too sure about the next step. When you’re in the yard with your mates it’s nice all being together.”
There’s one thing the Year 7 pupil is gutted about – that the new influx of pupils will have missed out on all the end-of-year celebrations and markers of Year 6, the final year of primary school.
“I feel bad for the new year sevens because they’ll have had no transition days,” he said.
“We had a prom which was really good, an end of school leavers concert, a bunch of transition days.”
Pupils and teachers in Millbank primary school, Ely, Cardiff, were typical of many primary schools around South Wales, saying it was “lovely” to be back, if very different from previous.
Parents said their children had been awake very early, excited about going back. Cleaners have been cleaning everything in the building much more frequently, and toys now get washed overnight.
Karen Brown, headteacher, said “It’s really exciting to welcome the children in. They were really happy to be back.
“We did wonder if a few of the children would be anxious, but there weren’t any tears at all.”
While the teachers weren’t wearing facemasks, some pupils were, and protective equipment is now on hand in every classroom if a teacher needs to help a child with first aid.
Hand sanitiser and cleaning stations have been placed throughout the school, with several at the entrance.
The lessons focused on feelings and wellbeing, including Lego therapy and how the pupils feel about coming back to school and what they’ve been doing during the lockdown.
Each pupil will go into school one day a week for the next three weeks.
About a quarter of the pupils who were asked to go in yesterday stayed at home, most from families with someone shielding.
Sophia Follet, eight, said: “It’s just like normal but a little bit different.
“It’s quite fun. It’s quiet, not having a lot of people in school, because now they just have a few people in the classes. It’s really nice being back and seeing my friends.”
Joe, 11, said: “It’s nice to see kids again, rather than being stuck in the house with my mum and dad.”
Some teaching assistants are also shielding, but they’re working from home and giving individual tutoring and helping with online learning.
As is the case with schools throughout Wales, each class now comes into and leaves the school at staggered times, to help pupils keep a safe distance. The street outside the school, like many in Cardiff, is also closed, to help parents keep a safe distance when collecting their children.
Pupils in years four, five and six are sat on separate desks, facing the front of the classroom; while those in years one, two and three are sat in groups of four, facing each other but still staying a safe distance apart.
Year six will have a reunion party in a few months time, and the school will get all the pupils back in to give them a proper send off and catch up, when it’s safer to do so.
Ms Brown said: “It’s way safer taking children to school than to the beach or the shops. Nowhere will be totally risk free, until the virus is eliminated. But with all the procedures in place, I think we’ve made it as safe as we possibly can.”
Over in St Illtyd’s High in Cardiff, headteacher David Thomas explained how his school welcomed pupils in in phases yesterday.
“The school was open to Year seven. There was a staggered arrival to school for the three groups from 8.30am to 9.30am.
“After lining up in their groups of eight they were led into their ‘bubbles’ for their lessons. It was great to see them and they coped with the new arrangements really well.
“We had concerns about social distancing and keeping two metres apart before we opened but I cannot thank and praise the pupils enough for keeping apart and keeping safe.
“The message had been well and truly received and understood.
“It is not the same as a school day we have been used to in the past but it was great to see the pupils and staff back on site and see the school come to life again.
“It gives us real optimism for the future and reinforced to all of us that this is the beginning of the come back and that there are brighter days ahead.”
Over in Pontypridd, Owen Tucker returned to Coedpenmaen Primary without his usual lunchbox.
Mum Becci Thomas said: “He’s been really laid back about it all.
“He hasn’t done as much work as he should have but there we are. But on the other hand he needs to see his friends.
“It’s a big year for them they are leaving in September to Ponty High so it could be the last time he gets to see some of them.
“He was worried about the temp check but he’s ok, that’s contactless”
The Coedpenmaen pupils will have to stay at their desks even for lunch and get temperature checks as well as make sure they do plenty of hand washing.
Becci added: “All the way through this I said, ‘they are not going back until September.’
“And when it was announced it was three days over three weeks, I thought what’s the point?
“Then when I saw the rules I flipped, I thought well it’s for their mental health. They have to see people – it’s been 14 weeks.”
There was a hiccup to reopening schedules in Blaenau Gwent.
Blaenau Gwent council confirmed that Tredegar Comprehensive will now open today after its opening was delayed after suspected contamination in water supplies.
But Brynmawr Foundation School, Blaen-y-Cwm Primary School in Brynmawr and Ystruth Primary School in Blaina will be closed for the next two weeks after “a localised contamination” the council said.
Meanwhile, it wasn’t just teachers returning to their usual workplace yesterday.
Rosemary Nicholson has been a lollipop lady in Blaenau Gwent at Coedy-Garn Primary School for 26 years – but said she was apprehensive about returning to work.
“I’ve done this job for a long time now and I absolutely love it, though there is a certain level of cautiousness surrounding our return today,” she explained.
“For me I have asthma so I have to be careful to keep my distance, and I think many people feel the same way.
“As you can see the numbers coming back here are quite low so it looks as though a lot of parents are waiting a little longer before they being the kids back to school.”
The return-to-school decision proved an extremely controversial move when it was announced on June 3, having come under fire from some parents and teaching unions.
But as children began to be eased back gently into the school routine yesterday, there was a feeling among those families who had chosen to return that it was a welcome first step to help youngsters reintegrate with their peers and teachers.
It remains to be seen just how many children will take up the offer of the limited sessions on offer before the summer break.
In the meantime, there remains little clarity over what will happen in September – particularly if a second “wave” of Covid-19 hits the nation.
The future shape of the nation’s schooling over the coming months – possibly years – is still a matter of great uncertainty. But yesterday may have provided a brief glimpse of the beginning of the long road back to normality.