Pupils leave school at the end of the first week of wider school opening

Return to Hull school ‘gone smoothly’ as pupils, parents and teachers happy to be back

Hull schools have now opened to a wider number of pupils, in nursery, reception, year one and year six.

Helen Miller, principal at Kingswood Parks primary school, said: ‘The wider opening of the school has gone very smoothly. Both staff and pupils have quickly settled into a new routine. As a school we appreciate the support and cooperation of our lovely parents.”

Pupils, parents and teachers at Kingswood Parks said they were happy to be back at school.

Amelia Spicer-Matthews, aged 11, said: ‘I am glad to be back. It’s nice to be able to speak to and see my friends and my teachers. We get to play lots of sports and it’s great to be in class learning. It’s much easier to learn now I’m back at school.”

Edward Hoult, aged 5, said: “I’m happy to be back at school because I like being in my new classroom. I can see a timetable on the wall which tells me about my lessons.”

As well as key worker children, around a half of all other children in reception and year six, and around a third of children in year one, are attending Kingswood Parks primary during the first week of wider opening.

Parents Mr and Mrs Preston said: ‘We can only praise the school. As we are key workers our children have been at school throughout the pandemic, and are now in their new classes. Our children have come home happy every day thanks to the organisation and efforts of the staff. It has been seamless, quite remarkable.”

All of the city’s schools conducted robust risk assessments ahead of the wider opening, in line with Department for Education guidance, to ensure the safety and protection of children, staff and adults. Assessments included protective and hygiene measures, staffing, site and premises assessments, learning considerations, as well as two-way communications with parents.

Schools continue to provide home learning resources for children not attending school.

The Guildhall in Hull.