Felsted School has welcomed back the first of its senior school pupils after Covid-19 restrictions were eased.
A number of Year 12s will be attending on Mondays and Tuesdays for the next three weeks, with Year 10s attending on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Reception, Year 1 and 6 pupils were the first year groups to return to Felsted in the first week of June, with numbers growing each day.
Extensive measures have been put in place, all areas have been deep cleaned, classrooms have been rearranged, and two metre distances and one way routes have been marked out.
Headmaster Chris Townsend said: “It has been a huge effort by all our staff over the past few months to keep our educational offering to the highest of standards remotely, but even more so to prepare for their safe return with all the obvious hurdles to overcome.
“Drop off times are staggered so children are not all arriving together, temperature checks are being performed at the beginning of the day, alongside regular hand washing at our newly developed washing stations, and classrooms have been rearranged to accommodate distanced desks.
“There has been much to plan to ensure the safety of both our pupils and staff.
“However, it is a delight to see some of them back, and to see the enjoyment of them seeing their friends and teachers after such a long time is just fantastic.”
Deputy Headmaster George Masters said: “We were delighted to see our pupils happy to be back. Learning has taken place inside and outside, with the children practising keeping a distance yet working together.
“Everyone has adapted very well to the new rules and systems we have in place, to keep everyone safe, and parents have been very supportive and appreciative of the care that has been taken to make the return such a success.”
While lockdown Felsted has remained open in a limited capacity for children of key workers, with a home learning programme called ‘Felsted at Home’.
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