Ashby Church of England Primary School has unveiled plans for the return of the first 'bubbles' of pupils next month.

The Burton Road school anticipates that returning children may only attend for four days a week to enable teaching staff time to plan and provide learning activities for those still at home and a weekly deep clean of the premises.

The Government is aiming for a gradual reopening of primary schools starting with nursery, reception, Year 1 and Year 6 on 1 June, although this is not yet a fixed date.

In a joint letter to parents interim executive head Mrs J Westaby and acting deputy head Mrs L Brady write: "We want nothing more than to welcome our children back into school, but it is a huge responsibility to make sure that we do this in a way that ensures the safety of everyone involved.

"We are doing an in-depth risk assessment of the school buildings and we believe that after 1 June we will be able to invite four groups or 'bubbles' of pupils, of around 12 to 15 children, into school.

"Each of these groups will be able to be separate from each other, they will have their own access into the classroom, their own toilets and washing facilities and their own group of staff who will stay with them.

"Children...will need to maintain social distancing as much as possible, they will have staggered arrival, collection, play and lunchtimes to ensure each group stays in their own 'bubble' and does not mix with other groups."

The children of key worker families are the 'priority' and the school will continue to provide care for these pupils five days a week.

The letter continues: "For the children in EYFS [Early Years Foundation Stage], Year 1 and Year 6 who wish to return to school after 1 June we hope to be able to welcome you back, however this may have to be on a part time basis.

"Our provision for these returning year groups will need to consider the number of children carefully to make sure we do not go over the 12 to 15 boundary and also our group limit of four groups defined by our risk assessment.

"We are lucky so far that very few staff have been unwell and therefore most pupils should be able to be with staff they are familiar with.

"We envisage that school will be shut to all but the children of key worker families on one day a week so that our teaching staff can continue to plan and provide home learning activities for the large numbers of pupils who are still learning from home.

"This would also enable us to do a deep clean every week of all the areas that have been used in addition to stringent cleaning at the end of every day."

Mrs Westaby and Mrs Brady conclude by paying tribute to the 'fantastic' school staff during 'what is easily the most difficult period we have ever faced'.

"They've dealt with everything with a smile, worked tirelessly with the children who've been at school, got to grips with new technology and home learning in a matter of days and supported each other every single day," they added.