After 165 long days (including the summer break) Olly finally went back to school after lockdown last week. He’s now in Year 3, which would be the start of his junior years if he wasn’t in primary school. It’s been a mixed few weeks with the countdown for back to school. There’s been lots of emotions flying around and uncertainties what school would be like but also lots of positivity for seeing friends and getting back into a new routine.
Preparing for back to school after lockdown
In previous years we’ve always steered clear of talking about the return to school as it used to really upset him. During the lockdown period, I believe Olly has really matured and he seems to have grown up all of a sudden. At the end of last term, we had a letter from school about back to school after lockdown and what uniform was needed and PE kit etc. We have bought a set of uniform for everyday so we can wash those fresh each week. We bought new school shoes for him as like the rest of him, he’s grown lots during lockdown. He’s now a huge shoe size 2!
We took part in a back to school challenge with our local shopping centre in the holidays which was fun. You can see it below:
Hello Year 3
Olly’s school have staggered start and finish times for all year groups and Olly’s year group is the last to start the day in the morning and last to leave too. We drop him off at the school gate and he can walk straight into school to his classroom. He’s in a bubble of 30 children with his school teachers and support assistant and he’ll stay with them for the whole day. The classrooms are very different with all the children sitting in lines. The classrooms aren’t big enough to socially distance at all so they’re not in little table groups anymore which is a little sad. He’s not allowed to mix with the children in the other year groups either which is sad but completely understandable.
Packed lunches are a hit
Now he’s in Year 3, Olly’s not entitled to the free school meal that he had in previous years. We offered him the chance to have a hot school dinner everyday but he wanted a Minecraft lunchbox so I think he’s enduring sandwiches so he gets to use the new lunchbox! He takes in ham sandwiches with a tub of chopped strawberries and cucumber fingers. He’s also taking a packet of crisps and a kitkat too! I’m sure he’s going to get bored of it soon but we’ll see.
Proud of how he’s coped
Olly has always really struggled with going into school. In previous years he made himself ill before throwing up on the playground with nerves and on occasion he’s had to be pulled off me to go into class. Thankfully, although he’s nervous and has been a little bit teary, he’s been going into school brilliantly. It’s all very different and he hasn’t always coped well with change but he’s walking into school on his own and the tears have dried up once he’s in his classroom. I’m so proud of him. He’s coping well and seems to love being able to see his friends again and have time with them. He’s really missed seeing other children his own age so it’s a huge thing to be able to see them again and chat and play with them in the playground almost as if nothing has happened.
Whilst the rest of the school year is uncertain with localised lockdowns around the country and various year groups in other schools already self isolating at home due to positive covid tests, fingers crossed we make it to half term without too much disruption.
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Parents must be really scared to let go of their kids to school. But the sad fact is that we have to go on with life. Nice write-up