An Ashby school is staging birthday parties for pupils as they cannot have them at home with friends due to coronavirus restrictions.

Woodcote Primary is holding the celebrations so that children can still have happy memories despite the difficult times everyone is having to live through at the moment.

The Government's Rule of Six measure means it is almost impossible for children to have birthday parties with friends outside of school.

But there is nothing to stop the same group of pupils doing it at school instead.

So Woodcote has decided to bring the parties to the children.

The school held its first one yesterday (Thursday) and plans to have plenty more throughout the year.

Woodcote has been proactive throughout lockdown, keeping in touch with pupils via social media and videos.

Headteacher Suzanne Jones told Ashby Nub News about Woodcote's latest initiative.

"It's understandable the children can't have the parties, but the same children they would invite are the one they're with all day at school, so we thought we'd make the most of it," she said.

"We had our first one on Thursday and it went down really well, they absolutely loved it. That at the foundation stage so it was the littlest ones, but the others are all ready to go for when they have their parties too.

"Working it out, our biggest class is 34 children and that's almost one a week - not quite! And the staff are very keen to celebrate as well.

"It's been lovely, but I think the children need it at the moment."

Mrs Jones explained that the children's well-being has been a priority for the school.

"We've done so much during lockdown, doing Tik Toks and videos every day, that was the biggest thing we thought the children were missing," she explained.

"And we had a quiz and some fitness classes.

"Every member of staff was involved, the birthday parties was from a discussion with members of staff. We all talked about it together and thought 'that would be brilliant'.

"It's unusual times and the whole school community has come together.

"If we can have some nice things out of this horrible time then that's great."

Year six students have been self-isolating after a pupil has tested positive for coronavirus.

But the school is determined to show that life goes on as normally as possible for the children.

"We would like it to be a special time for the children, just so as they have some special memories," added Mrs Jones.

"There's no doubt the children will remember the restrictions. They overhear things and they're anxious and worried about that.

"Well being is always important, but at the moment it's crucial.

"We use a programme called Class Dojo which is brilliant, that makes such a difference and enabled teachers to send out messages and videos during lockdown - they also had to put up with me singing Happy Birthday to them!

"But the children could also send videos back to us as well.

'During the VE Day 75th Anniversary celebrations, the children all sent a video in and we put them all together."