Following the recent announcement from the government about a possible return of pupils to schools from June 1, staff at schools in Shepton Mallet have been busy preparing for this.

Keeping children and staff safe is a priority, with challenges including how to teach with social distancing and how to arrange play times, and school drop-off and collection.

Whitstone, St Paul's, Bowlish and Shepton Mallet Infants have all informed parents on where they stand on the matter, and how preparations are going.

Whitstone

At Whitstone, Year 10 students will have a phased return to academic tutorials to supplement their online learning from June 15.

In the first week, Year 10 students will be invited into school to meet with their tutor in groups of up to five students.

These meetings will last for around 60 minutes whereby tutors will work through a selection of resources and also spend time talking openly with students and answering any questions they may have.

These student sessions will be staggered during the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week.

Then for the rest of the academic year, Year 10 students will be in school for a shortened day on a rota basis, to go alongside online learning from home.

This will ensure that there are a maximum of 50 students on site at any one time. These students will also be split into different areas of the school, with the day running from 8.45am until 1pm.

In a letter to parents, head teacher Guy Swallow said: "I fully appreciate that your child and family as a whole will be anxious about them returning to school.

"As a parent myself, I understand the concerns you may have regarding your child's safety and wellbeing.

"As such, we have produced a plan which has the safety, physical wellbeing and mental health of our students and staff at the very forefront.

"It is important to note that I will not be opening school to more students than we currently have on site if I am not satisfied that we are safe to do so.

"I have given this assurance to our staff and trustees. Our staff are receiving ongoing, extensive training regarding how to ease anxieties around returning to school following the Covid-19 outbreak."

St Paul's

At St Paul's, from tomorrow (June 1) the school will be open all week for children of critical key workers, and from Monday to Thursday for Year 6 students, being taught in groups of 10.

In a letter to parents, head teacher Chris Partridge said: "Classrooms and some spaces are not as you remember them.

"Please be prepared that children will sit in isolation from their peers. If you are going to send your child to school please ensure you have shared this information with them.

"Classes are set up with 10 individual desks and chairs, and each child will have their own set of equipment.

"Handwashing will happen frequently during the day, and one toilet is allocated to each bubble with only one child allowed in at a time.

"Lunches will be eaten in class or as picnics outside, and play times will take place outside in

allocated zones at staggered times.

"Any equipment used will be cleaned daily, and children and staff will be expected to socially distance at all times.

"All drawer units will be turned to the wall, and no soft furnishings or fabric will be in class. No cloakrooms will be used, coats will be placed on chairs and lunchboxes under tables.

"Movement around school will be through a one-way system, and there will be no visitors to school unless they are essential maintenance personnel.

"Staff will do their best to make this a positive experience for children, however, the school, their classrooms, corridors and routines will be very different to the normal school they are used to.

"We will have frequent sessions to address well-being for the children and times to discuss any anxiety they may have."

Bowlish and Shepton Mallet Infants

From tomorrow, both infant schools in the town will be open for critical key worker children, and for pupils in Reception classes.

However, until restrictions are relaxed further, neither are planning on having Year 1 children back into school.