Norfolk schools celebrate successful first week back
There was a great attendance
This week's return to school for children and young people has seen an overwhelmingly positive response from children, families and school staff.
From 8 March, all children have been welcomed back to school, with primary school pupils returning on Monday, and many secondary schools offering a staggered return for different year groups throughout the week.
With three weeks to go until the Easter Holidays, this is an important time for children to settle back into the routine of school life and ensure they make the most of the upcoming summer term.
John Fisher, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said:
"We're so glad that schools have been able to welcome children and young people back to the classroom this week. I'm sure all children, and parents, will be glad to be back in school, with their friends and learning together once again. It's been a massive effort from everyone involved to get to this point. While not ideal, remote-learning has provided young people an opportunity to continue learning, and children, teachers and parents should be proud of what's been achieved during the pandemic.
"There's been a lot of hard work going on in schools to make the return of full classrooms possible, so a huge thank you to all the hard work of all school staff who have gone above and beyond to ensure the school environment is as safe as possible."
In primary schools across Norfolk, attendance has been between 96-97% each day, above average for a normal school day. Additional measures to ensure the safe return of all children have led to an increased confidence for parents to send their children to school.
Sarah Shirras, Headteacher at St. Williams, said:
"It has been a sheer delight to see so many children back in school this week. The classrooms and playgrounds and buzzing with everyone so excited to see each other and to be back together. Attendance at our school, and in primary schools across Norfolk, has been really high all week.
"We know many children and their families have been desperate for them to return to school, to the learning and laughter it brings. However, others have understandably been nervous too. We want to say a huge thank you to all our families for their support through the last two months and for trusting us on the return to school."
In secondary schools, regular testing has been introduced for all students to reduce the spread of coronavirus. This has led to some schools staggering the return of pupils throughout the last week, in order to test children at least once before their full time return to school. Overall attendance has therefore increased throughout the week and is expected to reach normal levels next week.
Other measures schools have introduced include face coverings for secondary schools, regular staff testing, ensuring ventilation throughout the school and increased hand-washing. Class bubbles are also in operation to limit the number of children mixing together.