TEACHERS and school staff across the city have been helping children still at school to enjoy Easter with some fun activities.
Although the vast majority of children are at home, around 50 schools have stayed open in Leicester throughout the Easter break – including the bank holidays – so that vulnerable children and those whose parents are key workers can continue to attend.
And teachers have been working hard to ensure coming to school in the holidays is fun, with arts and crafts activities, cookery and sports sessions on offer rather than traditional lessons.
Claire Caldwell, headteacher at Forest Lodge Academy, in New Parks, said: “On average we’ve had 12 to 18 children attend since school closed. We were open on Good Friday and Easter Monday for several pupils.
“The pupils have been a delight over the last few weeks and the parents have been so grateful. All of our staff have worked as a fabulous team together to ensure all are safe in these unprecedented times.
“Pupils, staff and parents are all missing each other and look forward to returning once the lockdown is lifted.”
At St Mary’s Fields Primary School, in Rowley Fields, children have been making chocolate Easter nests and homemade honeycomb. And staff have got together ‘virtually’ to create a poster, in which they are all holding up hand-drawn words and pictures to form an overall message that says “we miss you all, stay inside, you are all our heroes.”
At Stokeswood Primary School, in New Parks, children have been spreading cheer in the community with a huge rainbow banner draped on the school railings. They’ve also taken part in Easter re-enactments and enjoyed the school’s outside space.
And at Beaumont Leys secondary school, in Anstey Lane, three students who are in over Easter joined staff to put their design and technology skills to the test making their second batch of face visors for the NHS. “The first batch was delivered to Leicester Royal Infirmary last week and this second batch will be with them later this week,” says headteacher Dawn Parkinson.
Councillor Elly Cutkelvin, assistant city mayor for education, said: “I want to say a huge thank you to all the teachers and school staff who are working so hard throughout what would normally be their holidays. As these activities show, they’re going the extra mile to ensure that children who are still in school can have fun, be creative, help the community and provide vital support to people on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus.
“Our schools are doing so much to support every child at the moment, demonstrating to the thousands of children who are at home that a school community is much more than just a building. I’m so proud of the way we have responded here in Leicester.”
Advice and information on coronavirus from the city council is available at www.leicester.gov.uk/coronavirus
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