London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025

Back to school: Parents and pupils delighted at return

Back to school: Parents and pupils delighted at return

With millions of pupils in England due to return to the classroom, the BBC went to Stokes Wood Primary in Leicester - a city where the term traditionally begins earlier than other parts of the country - to find out how pupils and parents felt.
'I know my son needed that routine back'
Year two teacher Milena, pictured with her son Erik - a pupil at the school - said she is delighted things will feel more normal

Milena, a year two teacher, whose five-year-old son Erik goes to the school, said she was "absolutely delighted" things would become more normal for all pupils.

"I know my son needed that routine back," she said. "He needed to be with his friends and socialise."

Milena and all the other school staff have been taking lateral flow tests twice a week and will continue to do so. However, they will not have to test the children, as some other schools will, because the pupils are too young.

"I feel safer taking the tests because I know I'm not bringing anything here and I know I'm not bringing anything home," she said.

Last year the school was grouped into bubbles, with one bubble for each year group.

This meant that if one person in the bubble tested positive, everyone in the year had to go home.

Fortunately this did not happen for Milena's year group, but it did for others.

"We don't have bubbles now," she said. "However, if we have five cases across the school then we will have to go back to bubbles, so even though the measures are significantly relaxed we are still going to be quite strict because we don't want to go back to bubbles and send pupils home."

For Milena, who continued teaching keyworkers' children in the classroom throughout the pandemic, while simultaneously streaming to those who were learning at home, the lockdowns brought their difficulties as well as their satisfactions.

"It was very challenging for all of our colleagues," she said.

"You are anxious but you know it's so important and you want to help out.

"I know there were lots of risks but I absolutely loved coming to work."

'We are very excited'
Parent Rhiannon, pictured here with her son Roman, said they both felt excited school was starting again

Rhiannon said she felt happy and safe dropping off her five-year-old son Roman at the school.

"We are very excited to get back to normal," she said.

"I work in a school anyway so I'm happy to come in. I'm quite happy with everything that's come in place so I don't really have any concerns.

"The rules have gone but we still have to keep distance and keep things as safe and sensible as possible.

"Fingers-crossed it gets more back to normal."

Roman also chipped in, saying he felt "good" and was particularly looking forward to "playing".

'I think everybody is relieved'
Head teacher Jane Gadsby said it was "just lovely" to see the children again

Jane Gadsby, who is head teacher at Stokes Wood Primary, said she was "really excited" to have all of the pupils back in school, while also being "a little bit apprehensive".

"Nobody really knows what's going to happen over the next term," she said.

"Hopefully it will be fine. It's just lovely to have all the children back and see all their smiling faces.

"I think everybody is relieved that we can go back to normal.

"I know the parents want the children back in school and want the best for the children. Staff are just hoping for an easier year."

While the BBC was at the school the staff received a phone call to say two brothers had tested positive for Covid and had to go home.

Previously, the boys' respective year bubbles would also have had to go home but the new rules mean, at present, this is not necessary.

"We are not using bubbles but we might have to go back to them," said Mrs Gadsby, who added there had only been a "handful" of positive cases last year.

"We didn't have a huge number of cases but you only had to have one to send a whole load of kids home," she said.

"We did very well because everybody was so cooperative."

'I'm kind of excited to see my friends again'
Bailey went to school during the pandemic but said this year felt more normal

Ten-year-old Bailey went to school throughout the pandemic because his parents are key workers.

However, he said he was glad the new school year felt a bit more "back to normal".

"I'm kind of excited to see my friends again," he said.

His dad, Shane, said Bailey was fortunate to be able to go to school last year when many pupils could not.

"It sounds bad but in some ways, because it wasn't so full, he enjoyed the extra attention," said Shane.

"He didn't get to see as many of his friends but in terms of schooling it was a bit more personal."

'We have been really waiting for this day'
Parent Nnenna, who was dropping off her daughters, said she was happy with the safety measures the school had in place

Nnenna was dropping off her nine-year-old daughter Alexandra and five-year-old daughter Joandra.

"They've missed their friends and they are happy to be back," she said.

"I think for the parents, we have been really waiting for this day.

"I [agree with] the policies they have put in place and I will just follow that. I know coronavirus is still in the air and we are taking our own precautions but life has to go on."

Alexandra added: "I feel very happy because it has been a very long holiday and it sometimes gets very boring.

"When I'm in school you are learning and you are socialising with other people."

'They are both excited about it'
Mum Praveen said she hoped the relaxation on rules around bubbles would mean her sons could play more freely with other pupils

Praveen has two sons at the school - seven-year-old Anakin and five-year-old Kanan.

"We are just happy they are going to get back into their routine because the last year-and-a-half has been quite tough on everyone," she said.

"So we are hoping they will get back to their normal routine and back to learning again, and they are both excited about it.

She is glad there will no longer be bubbles, as her sons can mix with other pupils.

"I think it's a positive thing," she said.

"I'm hoping for their sake they are able to play with other friends and be able to play together as well."

Anakin said he was "a little bit excited".

"I'm looking forward to seeing my best friend," he said.

'They can play with their friends now'
Jessica said she was pleased her children could play with their friends from different years

Jessica, who was dropping off her five-year-old son Blake, said her children had been going to school "quite a lot" as she is a key worker.

"The school is amazing," she said. "My kids were coming for two weeks in the summer holidays due to my work, which I thought was very good."

She said the bubbles "weren't too bad".

"My daughter is in year six and she struggled a little bit but we got through it.

"They can play with their friends now. It doesn't matter if they are in different years."

Blake added that he was "looking forward to seeing [his] friends".

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
Bessent Accuses China of Dragging Down Global Economy Amid New Trade Curbs
U.S. Revokes Visas of Foreign Nationals Who ‘Celebrated’ Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
AI and Cybersecurity at Forefront as GITEX Global 2025 Kicks Off in Dubai
×