BOURNEMOUTH boarding school Talbot Heath School have become one of the first schools in country to welcome back all of their students.

As of Monday, the entire junior school returned to classes after months of very careful planning and adapting to the new normal.

The independent school’s senior leadership team put together an extensive operating procedure including scheduled drop off times and separate entrances for classes with a hand washing stations.

Facilities Manager Adam Poole, who took on his role during the pandemic, said: “It’s only through these extraordinary and challenging times does it become apparent what amazing team support you get working at somewhere like Talbot Heath School.

“Staff have worked tirelessly, as a strong team, to achieve the goal of continuing the pupils education whilst seamlessly navigating the transition back to classrooms.

“Its also amazing to see how well the pupils have adapted to the challenge of social distancing, with chalk drawing on playgrounds, thanking the NHS and inventing games that are played whilst keeping socially distanced.”

As well as ensuring they have stocks of PPE, anti bacterial spray and paper towels, the school has also stuck down animal footprints, designed and cut on site by the DT department, at two metres apart across the school site.

Pupils have been allocated their own desk and equipment to use as well as been assigned designated toilets for their class, which are disinfected following every use.

Maintenance and cleaning staff work into the evenings to carry out essential work while pupils and teachers not on site and have been described as “the true unsung heroes” of the school’s current operations.

The school also celebrated their traditional 134th school birthday ceremony with a service to 1000 current and former pupils and staff around the globe via Zoom.

Head teacher Angharad Holloway said: “The community spirit during this time has been incredible.

“We have been live zooming our assemblies twice a week to hundreds of families, with parents, pets and siblings singing along with the hymns.

“But now, it is wonderful to see and hear our Junior pupils back on campus not from a Zoom screen. They are delighted to be back at school and we are delighted to have them back.”