Back to school for thousands of South Yorkshire children

It's the first step out of the national lockdown

Author: Ben BasonPublished 8th Mar 2021

It's back to the classroom for thousands of South Yorkshire children today.

After months of homeschooling, all primary pupils will return later with secondaries having the option of a staggered reopening over this week.

There'll be extra safety measures for older children including twice weekly testing and more wearing of face coverings.

Ella's in Year 4 at Anston Greenlands Primary near Sheffield - she can't wait to get back to school:

"Surprisingly I'm actually excited! Most people say 'oh it's school, why would we want to go back?' but I like a lot of subjects at school and being at home away from my friends is quite challenging. I just really like socialising with people.

"I really miss my friends. In lockdown I can only see them over Zoom or Skype."

Michael's in Ella's year at school and says he's looking forward to it too:

"It's seeing all my friends. I'm really excited - I just want to go back now. I say to my mum, 'can I go back to school now?!'"

On average kids have missed 95 days of education during the pandemic in the past year.

Headteacher at Anston Greenlands Primary Alex Wirth says teachers are happy to have children back:

"It's going to be a huge relief. We're constantly aware that things aren't fully back to normal - we've got lots still in place to make sure that we're keeping all of our children and staff safe but we really can't wait to get the kids back.

"We've missed having them in school. Having everybody in one place, it's going to have challenges I think but it's going to be a lot easier in some ways."

The reopening of schools marks the first step in the relaxing of England's third national lockdown.

Sheffield's Director of Public Health Greg Fell says Covid rates will inevitably increase as a result:

"There will be a rise in cases when kids go back to school. And that is not to say that schools aren't safe. Schools are as safe as we can possibly make them. Credit to schools up and down the city for moving heaven and earth to make their schools Covid safe. But Covid safe doesn't equal zero risk, it just means significantly reduced risk.

"Schools have demonstrated that they are well able to reduce risk as best they can, but there will be transmission. That's not because schools are doing the wrong thing, it's because we're bringing humans together."

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