Posted on 16th Mar
Mapplewells Primary & Nursery School welcomed back its remote learning children and said the first week has been a joyful return for pupils.
Greeted with welcome banners, staff say the school feels alive with the sounds of children.
Grant Worthington, head teacher at the Sutton school, said, “Monday 8th March was an amazing day – the day when all Mapplewellians were back together, and our school felt complete again.
“Children have been re-establishing relationships with staff and their friends and we have been supporting them throughout to re-join school life.
“Our remote learners have been brilliant, and we want to thank our families for their support of the school and the fantastic work they carried out to support their children’s learning at home.”
Mapplewells staff created a welcome area for children to enjoy and class photographs were taken and added to ‘welcome back messages’ by staff and placed into a time capsule for future generations to see.
Pupil Taryn Harvey (Y3) said, “On my first day back I was scared, but when I saw Mrs Warren, I was like, this is gonna to be great!” Vienna Harvey (Y6) said, “The wall made me feel really happy to be back with all the lovely staff at Mapplewells.”
Parents also left messages of support for the school. Mick and Leanne Gill said: “Wow! What an amazing welcome back to all the Mapplewellians…Lovely to see the staff’s smiling faces and welcoming arms on the playground, couldn’t have wished for more. Mapplewells really is one big family, so happy Jack and Ava are a part of it.”
Fellow parent Emma Hamilton agreed, saying her family was “glad to be back with the Mapplewellian family.”
Parent Kerry Eteson added: “The boys had a fab first day back. They both came out beaming! The welcome board was great!
“I walked away this morning happy and reassured that they would be fine after what seems like such a long time home-schooling!”
Fellow parent Kelly Beardsley said: “Coming to school on Monday as a parent I was very anxious. The children were very excited and could not wait to see their friends and teachers. But as soon as we entered, the teachers had big smiles and hellos for all of us.”
Parent Lauren Peel has three children at the school and said a teacher had supported one of her children who was anxious about the return to school.
She said: “Her teacher went out of her way to speak to her last week to promise that she would be OK. These little touches mean the world, I genuinely believe that the teachers missed them, it’s not just words.”
Support staff leader Fran Marshall said the children had enjoyed a joyful week back at school. “Mapplewells has never experienced anything like this before and the way our pupils, families and staff have pulled together is simply incredible. Our school motto especially resonates now, ‘Success is in our hands’, -and children’s return will last long in all of our memories,” she added.
