PUPILS said goodbye to remote learning and returned to school yesterday as the long road back to normality began.

The first step on Boris Johnson's roadmap saw classrooms open to all for the first time since December. 

Restrictions are still in place and pupils at secondary school have to be tested twice for Covid-19 each week. Students and staff will have to continue wearing face masks indoors and social distancing must be maintained. 

Council deputy leader and cabinet member for education Russell Holland said: “People are happy that their children can go back to school but it’s all very new and I can understand there may be some worries. We’re taking it step-by-step and learning as we go along. 

“I’m enormously grateful for all the hard work that parents and children have been putting in while homeschooling. 

"The teachers and teaching staff have also been doing phenomenal work in this very difficult time. 

"Let’s hope this is the last time we’re in lockdown and it’s imperative that we continue to wash our hands and socially distance so we can carry on keeping ourselves safe. 

“Children haven’t had the same education that would have if it wasn’t for Covid-19, but I think it’s good that children go back, and it will be under careful review. 

“There’s a number of discussions going on around their health and safety, mental health, and catching up to give them the best possible opportunity. 

“I think the government is acting on the best scientific advice that is available. I understand why some people may feel anxious but it’s one of those things that people will always feel anxious until the time comes. We just need to trust in the science.”

All pupils have to return to school unless they have been told to shield or have tested positive for Covid-19. 

Eotas Swindon is made up of three colleges – Fernbrook, Riverside, and Oakfield – and only one student tested positive for the virus this year, with none in the run-up to reopening. 

Principal Lindsey Hull said: “It has been quite positive, some students are struggling to re-engage and are a bit anxious about the virus, but we’re giving extra support to those that need it. 

“Our staff wants our young people in, virtual teaching is very hard, that face-to-face contact is very important but there’s a lot of planning and work put into remote learning. 

"It gives a personal touch so everyone is happy to be back. 

“We’ve got very safe measures in place and our risk assessment is robust. 

"We’ve had one staff member who caught Covid-19, I think what we have in place is proving to be working, even in the biggest peak and we’ve been open on a smaller scale, those measures have prevented the spread. 

“I’m hoping with the vaccination programme and the testing in place that we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

"We are yet to see if being back full time will have an impact on cases but with the measures and testing we hopefully shouldn’t see another spike and we can’t stay in lockdown forever.”