Pupils settling back in well at Chichester primary schools: 'It's not very different — I still have my teacher and see my friends'

"Everyone was very positive about their experience and this has been really appreciated by all the staff who have worked hard to be able to welcome reception and year 1 children back safely."
Oakwood School headteacher Clare Bradbury said she is 'proud' of how the children have 'adapted to new routines on site'Oakwood School headteacher Clare Bradbury said she is 'proud' of how the children have 'adapted to new routines on site'
Oakwood School headteacher Clare Bradbury said she is 'proud' of how the children have 'adapted to new routines on site'

Those were the words of Mandy Sadler, headteacher at Jessie Younghusband School, which was one of the many schools to reopen to more pupils last week.

Schools have remained open during the coronavirus pandemic for the children of key workers and vulnerable children but, from Monday, June 1, more than two million more pupils have been invited back across the country.

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Mrs Sadler said: "At Jessie Younghusband School, we have been open to keyworker and vulnerable children since lockdown started including the Easter and half term holiday periods. Our numbers increased from six a day at the beginning to 28 some days towards the end of May.

At Jessie Younghusband School, headteacher Mandy Sadler said feedback from parents and childrenhas been 'extremely positive'At Jessie Younghusband School, headteacher Mandy Sadler said feedback from parents and childrenhas been 'extremely positive'
At Jessie Younghusband School, headteacher Mandy Sadler said feedback from parents and childrenhas been 'extremely positive'

"After a careful assessment of the situation following the Mr Johnson's announcement about the wider opening of schools we welcomed back our reception and year 1 class following the priorities set out in the governments guidelines for schools.

"The classes have been split into two groups (bubbles) of 15 attending on either Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday. This has enabled us to make sure the children are with their own class teacher and work in their own classroom. In addition we also have three groups of keyworker and vulnerable children."

Oakwood School has also welcomed pre-school, reception, year 1 and 6 children back to school.

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"We are proud of how they have adapted to new routines on site," headteacher Clare Bradbury said.

Jessie Younghusband School is hoping to welcome year 6 children back 'later on in June'Jessie Younghusband School is hoping to welcome year 6 children back 'later on in June'
Jessie Younghusband School is hoping to welcome year 6 children back 'later on in June'

"It has been our great privilege to support our key worker families and we have had and continue to have up to 40 key worker children on site daily.

"We are ensuring that our pupils in year groups who remain at home or in families who have decided to remain at home are receiving a high quality of virtual learning provision with regular contact with their teachers and peers.

"Whether working at home or in school we remain very much a whole school community with children following the same timetable and joining each other either physically or virtually via our school assemblies, form time and other lessons where practicable.

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"Of utmost importance to us, is the mental and emotional well-being of all of our pupils whether they are continuing to learn remotely or are back with us on site. Our staff are working very hard to ensure the happiness, confidence and progress of each pupil is at the forefront of everything we do."

'We are hoping to be able to welcome year 6 children back later on in June'

At Jessie Younghusband School, Mrs Sadler said feedback from parents and children has been 'extremely positive'.

She added: "We had contacted parents to find out how many planned to send their children back to school and about two-thirds said they would.

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"So far, we have had eight children in both reception groups and ten to 12 in the year 1 groups.

"Many [children have said] their first day this week was the best day ever at school and when asked if things were very different one year 1 pupil said: 'Not very different I still have my teacher and see my friends'.

"Bearing in mind the classroom has been stripped of all unnecessary furniture, toys, etc, and the tables organised to sit one child per table, this shows what is most important to the children.

"We are hoping to be able to welcome year 6 children back later on in June once our key worker children numbers have settled into a regular pattern and our safe-working arrangements have become established.

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"We are having to work in a completely different way and this has been quite challenging to organise around the available staff and suitable classroom space within the lead in time we were given."

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