Primary heads in Peterborough say school measures working well

The Beeches headteacher Tim Smith said although a third of pupils who should have returned to school had done so, the reintroduction of reception and Year 1 had been a success.

“It’s been delightful to see the children again - hopping and skipping. One of two of them are a bit uncertain but it’s nice to see a lot of children,” said Mr Smith.

He wasn’t surprised by the children who stayed away, he added, as the school is in contact with all parents.

“The reopening has gone perfectly from our point of view,” said Mr Smith, though he added: “It’s a strange working environment. You can’t see colleagues at all. We have to Zoom them. It’s a whole new way of working.”

Rachel Simmons, headteacher at John Clare Primary has had a similar experience - finding 40 per cent of the number of pupils return.

She said: “The children that have returned have been very positive about coming back. We are delighted to see them.”

Of the children who have stayed away, she hoped they would return in the coming weeks, saying some parents were still unclear of their working patterns.

“There’s been a lot of planning gone into this - but it’s been really positive and smooth. There were a few who were a little worried but they are now fine and happy to be back with their friends.”

To help minimise the spread of the virus, schools are staggering breaks and have introduced the ‘bubble’ system where small groups of children work with each other.

It was the same story at Heritage Park Primary with headteacher Karen Bell hailing the return of reception and Year 6 a success.

She said: “It’s gone really well - seeing the children smiling and happy. The parents also see how excited they are about returning. It’s so lovely for the children to be with their peers.”

She added: “The children have adapted so quickly.”

Over at Wittering Primary School, a third and half of reception, Year 1 and Year 6 had returned.

Headteacher Rhys Thrower said: “It’s been amazing to see the children in their uniforms. They understand social distancing and the feedback is great from parents.”

He added: “With the younger ones, we’ve done gentle work with them - but most have come back with the understanding. Parents have done brilliant work with them before they came back.”

Some schools have stayed open during lockdown to look after vulnerable children and children of key workers, but for many youngsters this week will be their first time back in a classroom for more than two months.

However, many parents are so far refusing to send their children back despite the city council’s education chief Jonathan Lewis saying last week that he had “confidence in the guidance set out by Government and Public Health colleagues, combined with the level of diligence and rigour applied by my colleagues in schools”.

Youngsters are being placed in ‘bubbles’ with their teacher, while other measures surrounding cleaning and staggered arrival/pick-up times are also being introduced.

The council has left it up to individual schools to decide whether to re-open this week, while parents will not be fined for refusing to send back their children.

Among the city primaries not to re-open this week are those run by the Thomas Deacon Education Trust - Gladstone Primary Academy, Welbourne Primary Academy and Thomas Deacon Academy’s junior school.

A trust spokeswoman said earlier this week: “TDET are intending to open all their primary academies to more year groups from June 8 but cannot guarantee it at this stage until all the planning is completed over the course of this week.”

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