SCHOOLS across Wyre Forest have reported a good start to the return of more pupils this week, with stringent social distancing and hygiene rules in place.

Headteachers say parents are “cautiously” sending children back and say their schools are as Covid-19 safe and secure as they can possibly be - with staggered starts, home times and breaks, and PPE available for staff if required.

The Severn Academy Educational Trust (SAET) primary schools, which includes Stourport Primary Academy, St Bartholomew’s CE, Wilden All Saints' CE, Hartlebury CE, Wolverley Sebright, and Far Forest Lea Memorial CE, have all welcomed more pupils back into their classrooms this week.

St Bartholomew’s CE Primary in Areley Kings welcomed 40 children on Monday from year one and six, plus children of critical workers and vulnerable children from years two to five, and greeted a further 22 children into nursery and reception on Tuesday.

Headteacher Ian James said: “All pupils have responded brilliantly to the procedures in place and were delighted to see others from their year group.

“We do not underestimate how difficult the recent weeks have been for everyone and recognise the need to focus on pupils’ emotional wellbeing as well as their return to learning.”

Most SAET schools are seeing an attendance of around 50 to 60 children each day.

The schools say they have worked hard to ensure government guidelines are being followed for those returning, as well as for the vulnerable pupils and children of key workers they have continued to admit since the March lockdown, with children in small groups - or "pods" - rather than their usual classes.

Stourport Primary Academy headteacher Jacqui Elwis said: “On Monday, all families were greeted individually at the gate and socially distanced.

"The children then joined their new family pod – which will be a maximum of 15 – but is currently averaging seven or eight.”

She added: “Everyone was very grateful to have a cleaner on site, keeping banisters, door handles, toilets etc exceptionally hygienic.

“The feedback from staff, pupils and their parents has been positive, which means all the planning was worth it.”

Charlotte McDonald, acting head of school at Wilden All Saints', praised staff, children and parents for how well they are dealing with the new arrangements.

She said: “We currently have a maximum of 11 children with two adults and we are confident that we are following government guidelines to the letter, in fact what our trust is working to is above and beyond.”

Caroline Unitt, executive headteacher at Hartlebury, said: “We have had a lovely start to the week, everyone has followed the rules and all has been great.

“Parents are taking a very measured approach. Our offer was explicit and parents appreciated that - we then respected their decisions.

"I expect numbers to rise, although we are not considering creating another pod until at least June 22, and we will not add more children to the existing pods.”

Shelley Reeves-Walters, executive head of Wolverley Sebright and Far Forest Lea Memorial, took the decision to return reception and year one next Tuesday, to allow time for year six to become used to the new norm.

Wolverley has been open to its own and Far Forest’s children of key workers and vulnerable pupils during the last 10 weeks.

Mrs Reeves-Walters said: “I really feel for the parents making the decision as to whether to return their children to school.

"Some also have children in other year groups, and don’t want to send just one back.

"We have pregnant mums and families with babies, so there is lot for them to consider.”

Chris King, SAET chief executive, said: “Our staff have worked tirelessly to design and implement even more new ways of working with health and safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff being the overriding priority, whilst also maintaining crucial home learning for those pupils not going to school.”

Worcestershire County Council reports 202 schools in the county are affected by the wider reopening for nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6 pupils.

Of the 202, 94 are local authority maintained schools and the authority says 71 of these will be "fully opening" to all affected year groups by the end of this week.

The other 23 are said to be undertaking a wider reopening after June 5.

The county council last month said risk assessments were being carried out at individual schools before they reopen.

But Stephen Baker, joint secretary of the state education branch of Worcestershire's National Education Union, said more children going to school would create a “hotbed of infection” and cause a second spike in Covid-19 cases.

Mr Baker said the test and trace system, which was in part the reason for the easing of the lockdown and schools reopening this week, was not fit for purpose, adding "the track record of the government on getting things ready leads us to doubt its effectiveness."