Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News

Image source, YMCA

Bobby Roome, five, has gone back to school after making superhero badges to explain lockdown to his friends.

His parents used a superhero theme to help explain to Bobby why he wouldn’t be able to go to school for a while, and that being a stay at home superhero would help to save lives and protect the NHS.

With the help of his mum and dad Bobby made badges and wrote notes to help cheer up his friends at Violet Way Academy in Stapenhill, Burton-upon-Trent.

Image source, YMCA

His mum Vickey said: "Initially, we made 30 badges for Bobby's class, but the response was so good we had parents getting in touch with us asking if we had any more.

"They said if we made them they'd donate to charity, so we ended up making 100 and managed to get rid of all of them in one week."

Bobby donated to his local foodbank at YMCA Burton and said he was "so excited" to see his friends and teachers today.

Some parents say they are not allowing their children to return to school as they still fear the impact of the pandemic - despite government assurances it is safe for pupils to return.

Kieron Smith, from Blyth, Northumberland, said he was unwilling to let his five-year-old son return to school until there was evidence the risk level and transmission rates had reduced.

"It's one of the easiest decisions we've ever made," he said.

"Nothing comes before the health of our children...It's not a risk I'm able to tolerate. The government have not assured us of our children's safety."

Image source, Getty Images

Cat, 34, from Kent is keeping her five-year-old son at home because she is "concerned that there is no adequate track and trace system in place".

"He actually wants to be at home which is also concerning because he loved school. It'll be incredibly difficult to get him back to school once it's mandatory again."

She said she finds it difficult to understand how young children are expected to remain socially distant, "especially as all they want to do is play together and hug each other".

• Are you a parent with concerns over schools reopening? Email us.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Chellaston Junior School's assistant head Stephen Beeston made sure every child leaving the hall after lunch washed their hands and received a squirt of hand sanitiser.

He had been particularly worried about lunch as it was when most of the pupils would be moving.

He said there were still some "teething problems" such as how long it took the kids to all wash their hands, but it was "not bad for a first day".

"It has gone smoother than I thought. It’s nice to know our plans worked," he said.

The school has a field, a large courtyard and a number of outdoor areas which allowed them to have the children outside during lunch and safely distance from each other.

But head teacher Alex Smythe said schools with smaller spaces would struggle and he "does not know" what they would do without theirs.

The majority of primary schools in England are expected to open for more children later this week, the prime minister's official spokesman has said.

"This is the start of a cautious and phased return during which attendance will grow over time," the spokesman said.

Image source, Getty Images

Asked what the PM''s message to parents would be, he said: "We have only taken this step because we believe it is safe to do so.

"The medical evidence considered by government scientists has been published.

"It's hugely important that children do have the opportunity to get back into school and to learn but we are doing this in a very cautious and safe way.

"We fully understand that there will be some schools who feel that they need more time to prepare."

Daniel Wainwright
BBC England Data Unit

It is still not known whether children, who are among the least at risk from coronavirus, pose a risk of transmitting it to those who the NHS says are "clinically vulnerable", such as the over-70s.

There are about 84,000 children of primary school age in England, about 1.7%, who live with someone aged 70 or over.

The vast majority of primary-aged children are in households where no-one is over 50.

A primary school head teacher said he and his colleagues have done everything they can to ensure pupils returning to the classroom are safe.

Pete Talbot, from Castle Hill Primary School in Folkestone, Kent said it was "entirely up to" parents to decide if they wanted to send their children in.

In a message to parents, he said: "It's got to be what suits you, your family and your current concerns or worries.

"We are here for you if you wish to come in. We have done everything we possibly can to ensure it's a safe environment, and I will leave the rest down to you."

Victoria Derbyshire

All seven members of Lucille Whiting's family, including five children, had coronavirus symptoms over six weeks.

She said they were experiencing "post-viral symptoms" and so she was reluctant to send her daughter Freya back to primary school.

"At the moment it just feels a lot safer for her to be at home," Ms Whiting told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

The last few children have finished off their lunches in a hall at Chellaston Junior School which has 10 tables, each with chairs for only four pupils.

Lunch for the 150 pupils attending today started at 12 and took about 90 minutes - the same amount of time it normally takes to feed its 500 pupils.

Carol Townsend, who has worked on the catering team for 20 years, said the children had behaved well but it had been "surreal".

"But then again everything is at the moment," she added.

Ms Townsend said: "I was nervous, we've gone from serving only key worker kids for the past weeks to all of a sudden having more than 100.

"But it couldn't have gone better. The kids have been good, I only had to remind one or two about staying 2m away."

Parents in Penistone, near Barnsley, have been sharing their thoughts as their children return to school for the first time in weeks.

On father said it was "touch and go" while another, a key worker, said he was happy his daughter was getting "as much protection as she would at home".

About 150 pupils have returned to St John's Primary today.

Image source, Getty Images

Children seem to be at low risk from the disease, but can they still spread it?

BBC health reporter Rachel Schraer explains more here.

As pupils begin to return to some primary schools across England, a council leader has warned about the importance of avoiding a "Covid-19 lost generation".

From today, children in Reception, Years 1 and 6 are finally able to return after having been out of school for 10 weeks - though some schools have said they are not ready, while in other areas they will remain shut.

Councillor Sir Steve Houghton said the decision on whether to reopen was a matter for individual schools, but Barnsley Council would support them "whatever decision they make".

He said: "Clearly for us, we are keen to get children back to school because what we don't want is a Covid-19 lost generation of children who did not get the education they deserve.

"But, in doing that, its's got to be done gradually and it's got to be done safely."

Open windows, plastic wallets and plenty of hand washing are all part of the new normal for primary schools across England.

St Mary's Primary School in Chippenham, Wiltshire, made a video to explain to students what to expect on their first day back.

Rob England
BBC News

As some primary pupils return to schools in England, a council has taken to social media to emphasise the move is "not compulsory" for parents.

Leeds City Council said: "We want to reassure parents that at this stage if your child is not able to return, it is not compulsory for them to do so and you will not be fined if you decide to keep them at home."

Children in Reception, Years 1 and 6 are able to return in some parts of the country, with many having been out of school for 10 weeks.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Feet-shaped markers have been added at Chellaston Junior School to remind children how far apart they should be keeping.

At Chellaston Infant School next door, pupils are having their temperatures taken by a member of staff before being allowed in.

A primary school in Lincolnshire says it has introduced strict safety measures so it is safe to welcome back some pupils today.

Image source, Google

At St George's Church of England Primary, in Gainsborough, children are being kept in "bubbles" of six, classrooms have been rearranged to allow for social distancing and many lessons will be taught outside.

Image source, Getty Images

Primary pupils are back in some schools in England - but surveys suggest half of parents might have kept their children at home.

Jane Reid, from York, does not believe it is for her son to go back to school, saying: "It's a definite no from me.

"Plus, the contradictory information is infuriating. I can take him to school, but can't get his hair cut."

Valerie Brooker, from Haslemere in Surrey, asked: "How can I send them to school now, knowing it will be impossible for teachers to implement social distancing rules properly?"

Read more here.

Rob England
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield has called on the Government to set up summer classes in July and August to help children catch up on work they missed during lockdown.

With some primary school pupils returning to school in England today, many young people face up to six months off school depending on when they are able to return.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, she said summer schools could help the "most deprived" and "provide activities of all kinds, meals and potentially some learning too".

On social media, she said: "Good luck to all the teachers and children with returning classes in primary schools this week. There will be a few nerves but the work & planning to make schools a safe, welcoming and nurturing place has been outstanding. Thank you."

Judith Burns
Education reporter

Ruby, 11, is a Year 6 pupil at St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Primary School In West London returning for the first time today in 10 weeks.

She says she quite likes the extra space, with desks in rows facing the front instead of pushed together. “It could be better because sometimes people can be annoying.”

The school has split each class into two separate "bubbles", with one half in on Monday and Tuesday and the other on Thursday and Friday - which allows for a deep clean on Wednesdays.

Ruby says she will miss some of the people in the other group. School will be “way different”, she says.

Many children have returned to their classrooms in England for the first time since lockdown began, here's the view across the country:

Image source, EDDIE KEOGH / Reuters

Image source, Branwen Jeffreys / BBC

• See more here

Daniel Wainwright
BBC England Data Unit

Parents will not be fined if they choose not to send their children to school, although the government encourages them to attend if they are in one of the groups now eligible to go back.

In pre-pandemic times, just a few months ago, government data showed that it was becoming more and more common for parents to receive a £60 penalty notice for failing to send their child to school, rising to £120 if not paid within 21 days.

The latest data, for 2018-19, shows nearly 333,400 fines issued during the year, a rise of 28% on the year before.

Unauthorised holidays were the most common reason for a fine.