Midhurst and Petworth schools and businesses looking forward to reopening as lockdown eases

Boris Johnson revealed the government’s plan on Monday, which consisted of four stages with five key dates of when measures can be lifted at the earliest.

Schools will be able to welcome back students from March 8 whilst ‘non-essential’ retailers will reopen to customers from April 12 at the earliest.

Local business owner Geoff Allnutt, on behalf of the Midhurst Vision Partnership, said: “We are very pleased to hear that a date has been set for non-essential shops, outdoor eateries and hairdressers to reopen.

“Essential shops and cafés, pubs and restaurants who have managed to adapt with take-aways have made lockdown more bearable for us all over the last year.”

Mr Allnutt said it has been an ‘incredibly tough time’ for local businesses and ‘sadly not all may survive’.

He added: “Midhurst Business Network has been having regular monthly meetings online and have provided much needed advice and support.

“They also give people the opportunity to share new ideas and how to adapt, like ‘click and collect’.

“To keep the amazing businesses in Midhurst going we really need to support them more than ever.

“Also money spent locally tends to stay locally.

“The businesses are really looking forward to welcoming customers back and offering a safe good quality shopping experience.”

Wild Combe Camping site, in Elsted, said it is feeling ‘more than optimistic’. Its social media post read: “With staycations still very much on everyone’s minds, we can offer a break away from the norm, a place to swim, relax, walk, stargaze. Our bell tents are creating a buzz and a few weekends are already booked. Before we start turning people away please book asap; [email protected].”

Seaford College’s headmaster, John Green, said the announcement that schools can soon reopen is ‘incredibly positive’.

He said: “Throughout the pandemic, we have had contingency plans and extensive risk assessments in place to enable Seaford to fully reopen in a safe manner, and we are now putting these plans in place to enable us to be fully operational from March 8.

“Our aim is to welcome back students and to help them reintegrate into our vibrant academic and co-curricular life that they all enjoy.”

At Seaford, students in Year 7 and above will need to have three Covid-19 tests in school following their return on March 8. After this, students will need to be tested twice a week at home. Mr Green said all staff across the college will also be tested and will need to take a provided test twice a week at home.

Northchapel Primary School headteacher Ms Deborah Coggin said it has been ‘incredibly challenging’ for children to ‘keep up the momentum’ whilst working from home, so staff are ‘very pleased’ to hear that all pupils can return to school soon.

“Since January, the effort from our staff, pupils and parents has been amazing during such difficult circumstances for all,” she said. “Despite everyone’s best efforts, nothing can replace the quality of teaching and learning that you get from face-to-face teaching, so it is imperative to get children back where they should be, with their friends and teachers in class.

“We have robust safety measures in place, and we will continue to keep our staff and pupils in small bubbles, so parents can rest assured that we are keeping their families as safe as we possibly can at this time.

“We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome the children back.”

Easebourne Primary School headteacher Johnny Culley said ‘we are delighted to be welcoming all of our pupils back’.

He added: “This lockdown has been really tough on parents, carers and children alike, but our families have coped incredibly well. Our staff have gone over and above, in both their pastoral care and their academic provision, and I know I speak on behalf of them all when I say that we really can’t wait to get back to normal. That said, ‘normal’ from March 8 will still be a far cry from a typical pre-COVID primary school day.

“Until the R number is considerably lower, and we are advised by the government and the county authority that it is safe to do so, we will not be relaxing our current practice, continuing to adhere to a very stringent Covid risk assessment and operating in year group bubbles.

“We very much want this to be the last lockdown that our families and staff go through and will play our part to ensure that is.”

In a post on social media, Midhurst Rother College said it will use the next few days to put plans in place to reopen the school and reassured parents that this will be in line with government guidelines, ‘keeping health and safety our priority’.