Children of key workers who are staying at school so their parents can keep working have recorded a series of heartfelt messages to say thank you to key workers, people still working at schools, and everyone who is staying home to help keep their parents safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The videos, made with the help of school staff, are to recognise the contribution of key workers across our county, as well as to show appreciation for school workers, including teachers, teaching assistants, site managers, cleaners, cooks and many others.

The idea came from Nottinghamshire’s Tackling Emerging Threats to Children Team (TETC), established to support schools and partner agencies around any issue which might potentially threaten the health, safety and wellbeing of a young person.

The TETC team thought this would be a fantastic way to celebrate the work of key workers, as well as show thanks to schools for their amazing efforts during such a difficult time.

Several schools have taken part, including Samuel Barlow Primary Academy, Clipstone, and High Oakham Primary School, Mansfield.

Click here to watch the video messages

Sarah Kahler, principal of Samuel Barlow Primary Academy, said: “We are really proud of the way our whole community has been united in this dealing with this situation. Children, staff and parents have had to take on different and changing roles, but all have done so positively and are ensuring that we are keeping each other safe.”

Coun Philip Owen, children and young people’s committee chairman, said: “I would like to say thank you to all school staff across Nottinghamshire, who have been doing a very important job, teaching and taking care of key workers’ children during the pandemic.

“They are enabling doctors, nurses, paramedics, police officers, firefighters, and everyone else doing such vital work to keep going in the fight against the coronavirus.

“The children are rightly proud of their parents, and I’m very proud of the children, for their resilience, determination and positive attitude.”

The project has been so successful, with many messages sent in, that a second video is planned, due to be released in May.