David Pittam
BBC News Online

Blair Matthews, a family support manager, said the need for support was higher in this lockdown than the first.

He said: "I think it's because of the time of year. In the first lockdown families were able to get out the house, even just sit in the garden but this time people have spent a lot more time indoors.

"A lot of the support is around the frustration of living together. We're not used to spending that much time with our families."

Mr Matthews said it had been more difficult to check on children when they're not in school but they had been making calls and visits.

"It's a relief that the students are back. It's been a long time and it's good for them to get back in to some sort of routine.

"That's been the biggest struggle for families. A lot of praise has to go to parents and how they have adapted to a whole new experience," he said.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

With the children returning to school, local policing teams are back on patrol in school areas.

So far in Derby, police said the only thing to report was "smiling faces".

Officers at some railway stations in the East Midlands have been helping make sure returning to school "goes smoothly".

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Katie Todd, 16, who is in year 11 at Alfreton's David Nieper Academy, said the lesson she was most looking forward to was PE.

She said: "Kicking a ball around alone on a field for an hour and a half is not much fun and I've been very bored."

Headteacher Kathryn Hobbs said PE would return but students would not be allowed to play football on the field until outdoors sports are allowed under government rules on 29 March.

Katie said she had been in school throughout lockdown and said it would be strange to see more pupils in school.

"It's a bit awkward seeing everyone come back - people you've not spoken to for a few months.

"We've gone from speaking to no one to speaking to everyone," she said.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Sharon Shawcroft, who was dropping off her 12-year-old son at the David Nieper Academy, said she was a little anxious about his first day back.

Ms Shawcroft, 50, said: "I'm nervous.

"He has autism and it's been a struggle teaching him at home - but I feel better for him being at school, where he should be. He's been excited to come back."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A colourful welcome to students at Captain's Close Primary School in Asfordby.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

The sports hall at Alfreton's David Nieper Academy has been converted into a testing centre.

It's being run by school workers, including teachers. Students swab themselves with support from staff.

Headteacher Kathryn Hobbs said they had consent for testing from 97% of parents.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Pupils at Alfreton's David Nieper Academy have said they are glad to be back at school after more than two months of home schooling.

Aaron Meyrick, 16, who is in year 11, said it was "better for my education to be back".

"If I've got a difficulty, I can go over it with the teacher rather than wait for a reply.

"Home schooling is tough, there's lots of distractions that get in your way. It felt weird to be coming back through the gates but good as well," he said.

Head boy Jacob Ashforth, 16, said he preferred learning in school and struggled with lockdown learning more than he thought he would.

He said: "As a kid you might not like school, but it's only when you can't go that you realise how useful it is.

"I've most been looking forward to socialising and speaking to my mates. I've missed being able to have lots of conversations - there's only so many things you can say to your family."

Katie Chambers, 16, who is in year 11, said she had been shopping for nice face masks for her return to school.

She said: "I was a bit nervous but I'm excited to see all my friends again.

"I do DT, but it's hard to do the practical stuff at home. It's a bit stressful coming back though - I've not been around so many people in ages."

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

Schools across the region have been welcoming back pupils after more than two months of home schooling.

Derby High School posted about a "buzz of excitement".

Rushcliffe School, in West Bridgford, said it "will take some adjusting". But they tweeted, external: "It will be lovely to see some familiar faces and have a buzz around the school again."

In Leicester, Rowlatts Mead Primary Academy posted a picture of "happy smiling pupils".

Jenny Day, head of Year 7 at Loughborough High School, tweeted, external it was "good to be back" as students were "settling back into to school life" and "reconnecting with friends".

Laurie Dyche
Reporter, BBC Radio Nottingham

The "well-being of pupils" will be the main focus today at Southwark Primary School in Basford.

Nick Smith, assistant headteacher for years two and three, said: "I think we'll have a few nervous children but by 10 o'clock we want to make sure that everyone is feeling good and is smiling.

"It's been a very difficult time and children aren't exempt from that, so it's all about feeling good and then getting back into the learning."

Image source, Google

He said the school had about 200 children in during lockdown, but they are being joined by about another 500 children today.

Mr Smith said: "We are so excited today to see everybody again. At last we'll be one big school all together."

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

The MP for Leicester South has thanked school staff across the city, tweeting, external that they have "worked so hard" through lockdown.

Jonathan Ashworth, shadow secretary of state for health and social care, said: "Teachers, TAs and school staff across Leicester (and elsewhere) have worked so hard through lockdown, teaching and supporting children of key workers, arranging home schooling and preparing for today.

"On behalf of everyone across Leicester South, thank you."

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Some year groups at Alfreton's David Nieper Academy returned to school last week to be tested ahead of reopening.

Headteacher Kathryn Hobbs said years 10 to 13 went in on Friday to be tested and they are returning today along with years 7 and 8 - in total about 470 pupils.

Dr Hobbs said they had had consent from 97% of parents for testing.

She said: "I'm really excited today - it's lovely to see everyone back in."

BBC Radio Leicester

Daniel Cleary, Principal of Robert Smyth Academy in Market Harborough, said the school had been "really busy" preparing to reopen and administer Covid tests.

He said: "Over 90% of our students came in last week for a lateral flow test - some of them queued for an hour and a half.

"We did 914 tests last week so our community are lock-stock behind the school.

"I don't know of a secondary school anywhere with that sort of conversion rate."

Image source, Google

He said students he had spoken to told him they were "done with lockdown" and remote learning.

He said most of them seemed keen to get back into a routine with lessons and socialising.

BBC Radio Leicester

Liz Peutherer - a Year 5 teacher in Braunstone - said pupils in her class will be eased back into face-to-face learning with some creative work.

"The first thing we're going to do is make spacemen... just to get them to have something up on display straight away so they all feel part of the classroom again," she said.

Image source, Reuters

Ms Peutherer, who works at Queensmead Academy, has been teaching live online lessons during the lockdown.

She said the children have been able to keep up to date with their work, but she was excited to have them back in the classroom properly.

BBC Radio Leicester

A teacher in Loughborough said she was excited to be returning to face-to-face teaching.

After months of communicating with pupils through an iPad, Jennie Christie said: "I cannot wait to have my class back in - home learning has been alright and I've been really proud of my class.

"Nothing can replace being a teacher in the classroom in front of a class.

"There will be some nervousness definitely, but we're ready - we've got the bubbles, we've got the sanitising and it is as safe as it possibly can be."

Image source, Google

Ms Christie teaches at Booth Wood Primary School, where she said there were "lots of exciting things" planned to help ease the children back into routine.

BBC Radio Derby

A headteacher said she would be welcoming pupils back to school "nice and gentle" during the pandemic.

Tamara Dale, of Ridgeway Infants School in Littleover, said: "We've tried to keep things as normal as possible - there have been enough changes in the last few weeks, so nice and gentle to start, with lots of familiarity.

"They're very good at picking up routines very quickly."

She added that staff were "really excited" to have the children back as they have "missed them so very much and the school is not the same without them".

Image source, Google

East Midlands Today

Some children are having to wait longer to return to school following a cyber attack on the computer systems of an education trust that runs several academies in the region.

The attack on Nova Education Trust last week caused their network to go down.

Toothill School in Bingham is one of the trust's 15 schools, and pupils there have been told they won't be returning until Thursday.

In a statement, the school said: "As our IT recovery operation gets underway following our recent cyber attack, we plan to prioritise our limited functionality to safely and effectively continue with our lateral flow testing programmes."

BBC Radio Leicester

Most parents who are not key workers have been teaching their children at home for the last two months while schools have been closed.

Laura, a mum of two from Barrow upon Soar, said she and her friends have struggled.

"People have messaged me and said things like 'I've been crying every single day'.

"Even though it's awful to hear that about a friend, it also makes me think it's not only me that feels like I'm going absolutely, completely mad," she said.

Image source, PA Media

Children across the region are heading back to school this morning after more than two months studying at home during lockdown.

Most primary schools are expected to open today, while many secondaries will have a phased return during the week, allowing pupils to take Covid tests.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has described the return as an important first step towards a "sense of normality".

Image source, Getty Images