CHILDREN have made their way to school this morning as classrooms welcomed back pupils after more than two months of studying at home.
Parents and carers of pupils at Peter Gladwin Primary School in Drove Road, Hove formed a socially distanced queue outside the school this morning as children across all years returned for face-to-face teaching.
This morning, The Argus went to the school to speak to parents about the return after weeks of lockdown.
Joanna Harmer, who has children in reception and year three, said she had "no fears" ahead of her children's return to face-to-face learning.
She said: “I’m ecstatic. Juggling everything has been difficult. This is a brilliant school, and they are so organised.”
Another Parent, Tracey Powell, was dropping her son off at the school.
She said that it was a “relief” that her son, who is in year three, would be able to socialise with his friends and have a break from spending time looking at a screen.
She said: “He’s really missed his friends and it’s had a huge impact on him not being able to see them.
“I think he’s missed out on that social interaction and just getting some structure back to the day is really good for all the kids. It has been tough.
- READ MORE: LIVE: Schools return as first lockdown restrictions eased
- READ MORE: Gavin Williamson: Monday’s return to school is start of road back to normality
It is also a welcomed break from all the screen time. I think there’s a real sense of screen fatigue and so it will be good to finally have a return to face-to-face teaching and the quality that they receive.”
We are so excited @GladwinPrimary to be welcoming you ALL back to school on Monday 8th March! 💚💙@brightonargus @easthillcafe @BDP_WCA #BackToSchool #LovePeterGladwin pic.twitter.com/VYzW5GQnSS
— Peter Gladwin Primary School (@GladwinPrimary) March 5, 2021
On Friday, a spokesman for Peter Gladwin tweeted that the school was “so excited” to be welcoming back its pupils.
Philip, who has a daughter in reception at Peter Gladwin Primary School, said he feels the reopening of schools for all pupils is a positive move.
He said: "I think it's really good for families to get back to some sense of normality, and also for the kids as well."
Nicky Guirey, who has a son in Year 2, said: "He was a bit anxious about going back this morning, but once he got here, he was so excited and he ran to his class."
The Education Secretary Gavin Williamson wrote in The Sun that is the return of face-to-face teaching marked “the beginning of the road back to normality.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he hoped today's tentative softening of restrictions marked a "big step" on his "road map to freedom" - a plan which could see all Covid measures lifted by June 21.
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