First day back in the new normal for Woodston pupils

The Peterborough Telegraph visited Woodston Primary School to see how pupils and staff weresettling in following the return to school after the summer holidays. For some pupils, it will have been their first time back in six months.

The school opened i t s doors on Monday to its Year 1, 2 and 6 pupils, roughly 250 of its 540 cohort.

The school had remained open for these year groups duringlockdown, aswellasfor children of key workers. The Year 4s returned on Wednesday, followed by the 3s and 5s on Thursday, with the school returning to full capacity on Friday.

All children have been provided a map of where to go along with a picture of their new teacher aftertheymissed out on moving-up days. These normally take place at the end of term, to acclimatise the children to the class they will be moving into the following school year.

Parents have been given a 25-minute window, between 8: 30 and 8: 55am, to arrive at one of the two designated entrances, where staff are on hand to ensure social distancing is maintained, a system the school believe has worked well.

Inside, classrooms have been rearranged so that all desks are facing the front, all children have been provid

ed with a newly-bought pencil case and water bottle, so that none are brought in from home, and are asked to regularly sanitise their hands.

This system is particularly vital in the Year 1 classes, where children will be touching the same objects.

Walkingthroughtheschool has been limited as much as possible, with designated staircases to enter and exit thebuildingtotheplayground. Both internal and external windows are opened.

For staff, social distancing is beingfollowedinstaffrooms and one way systems are in place in the corridors.

The school has also implemented bubbles for each year group, with staggered lunch and play times for each and each class has been allocated a set of toilets they can use.

The school is only offering hot dinners to Key Stage 1 pupils at the moment, with Key Stage 2 bringing their own lunches and eating them in their classrooms.

KS1 eat their dinners in the hall at staggered intervals with the tables thoroughly cleaned between year groups.

This is done by cleaners whoareon-site all day, making sureall surfaces anddoorhandles etc are regularly cleaned.

The school has said that all staff andparentshavebeenrespectful of the rules, with children excited to return.

Year 6 pupils at Woodston Primary