Headteacher gives 'virtual hugs' to children on first day back at Northamptonshire school

Pupils at Roade Primary School were welcomed back today (Monday) by headteacher Mark Currell who was offering them a 'virtual' non-contact hug at the gates.

Parents have made their own decision whether to send their children back to school and, ahead of the children arriving this morning, Mark was anticipating 51 per cent of the three year groups turning up for a day of learning.

The school has remained open throughout the coronavirus restrictions for children of key workers and vulnerable children, only closing Bank Holidays.

Mark said: "We are confident that the school has done all it can and is as prepared as it can be.

"I am confident in the staff to deliver the best possible experience for our children and to keep them safe in accordance with the guidance within their 'bubbles' and 'zones'. It will not take the worry away completely. There will be some butterflies for us all but I am confident that we have done all we can do to be ready for expanded opening today.

"It has been a very strange time and there have been different experiences for us all, good times and more tricky times. I could not be prouder of our school community over the last few weeks. There has been a real sense of pulling together and playing our part-a real sense of community spirit. It is certainly not over by any means and there is still a lot to be thought through."

Book cases are now out of use, additional signs have gone up in the playground to remind children of social distancing rules and arrival times and lunchtimes have been staggered.

Also, bubbles and zones have been introduced, markings have been put on the floors in classrooms to separate children and their teachers and in the lunch hall chairs have been separated by two metres.

"We would all probably agree that the younger year groups chosen to return are the hardest to socially distance and the safety rules around working in a primary school seem wildly different to those rules applied to other jobs and sectors," added Mark.

"This does lead my staff to be worried about their own health and the health of those around them. Those inconsistencies with the rules and guidance do cause anxiety for everyone working with children. We have some members of staff who cannot return to work at the moment due to shielding themselves or other members of their families.

"We have had to jiggle our staff to make sure that all areas are staffed effectively. But alongside this worry there is a sense that some of our families need us and it is our role to play our part and be available to more pupils.

"The staff have said that they are comforted that the school has put in place the measures we have but we will only know when we start working within those measures how it feels."

For children learning at home, Roade staff have been making entertaining lockdown videos, setting challenges, writing postcards and updating their school blog to keep eachother connected.

"Our community has really pulled together and has been brilliant throughout this lockdown," Mark said.

"We have tried to communicate as much as we could, as honestly as we could and we tried to do things for our families and with our children - even though they were remote.

"Parents have been amazing - keeping their children going and learning at home. They have juggled and planned their days brilliantly and did what was needed and what was right for their family."