Pupils' joy as more children return to Sunderland primary schools following lockdown

More than half of Sunderland’s 82 primary schools welcomed more children back on Monday, June 8, after an 11-week gap following the onset of the pandemic.

While the Government granted permission for pupils to return from June 1, many schools have taken extra time to finalise new safety measures with only a quarter of city primaries formally reopening last week.

Seaburn Dene Primary School, in Torver Crescent, which has remained open throughout the lockdown for key worker children, welcomed back 10 Year 1 and Year 6 pupils on Monday.

They were greeted by a host of new safety precautions including staggered hours, sanitiser stations throughout the building, social distancing floor markings and temperature gun checks.

One of the Year 6 pupils to return, Liam Raven, 11, joked that he “got a little lost” on his first day back and added: “I am very excited to see my friends and teachers again.

“I have seen my friends on my phone and Facetime but it is better to see them for real.”

Year 6 classmate Lacey Laycock said she was looking forward to enjoying art, maths and PE again.

Lacey had to postpone her birthday party after turning 11 during the lockdown “because there was no people to come”.

But she added: “It was my friend’s birthday as well so we will probably have two sleepovers when it is all over.”

Each year is divided into two groups with one coming in Mondays-Wednesdays and the other Thursdays-Fridays before the timetable is reversed in week two.

Reception and nursery classes are next to return with headteacher John Howe hopeful that some pupils from every year will be back before the summer holidays.

He has also praised staff and parents for their response to the new challenges and added: “The children have come in with smiles on their faces.

“They have been keen to see their friends, keen to see each other, staff as well, and we haven’t had any undue anxiety or tears this morning.

“We have had children who are genuinely happy to be back in our school.”

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