The school teacher supporting families with online lessons to help keep children up-to-speed with learning

Thomas Biggins, 33, who lives in Washington, is offering online lessons for year five and six pupils in a number of subjects including English, Maths, History and Geography to keep school children up to date with their learning while the schools remain closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The stay-at-home lessons aim to involve pupils as much as possible and as well as providing vital learning for children also provide support for struggling parents who are homeschooling.

Mr Biggins, who teaches at St Benet’s RC VA Primary School in Chester-le-Street, is aiming the lessons at 9-11-year-olds and hopes it will support children and parents alike.

He said: “Our pupils are the reason we do this job and their safety and wellbeing will always be put first so we are all adapting and are working hard behind the scenes.

“I'm a Y6 teacher and I've had my class for 2 years so it's hard to think about them missing out on such a great time in their lives, production, saying goodbye, leavers assembly and even my girls football team not winning all the trophies they had the talent and potential to win.”

The lessons will feature interactive quizzes, creativity and a stay at home school disco every Friday.

To see the lessons online, visit Mr Biggins Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTAPbjTGPOTAA25NgX1Kd7w

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

How to subscribe to the print edition

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of. Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.