TEACHERS and parents have been home-schooling for over a week as part of national lockdown measures - with many households having reacted well to the change.

Online live classes have begun in schools across East Lancashire, with vulnerable children and children of key workers still able to be in the classroom.

Coates Lane Primary School, Barnoldswick, have said that although going back to home-schooling has been a challenge, the parents and children have embraced the changes well.

Headteacher Mrs White said: "In my 8 years of headship, I have to say the last week has been the most challenging. However, we are so lucky at Coates Lane to have such an wonderful community.

"The parents have embraced the move to Remote Learning and worked with the staff to enable their children to access the live teaching that we are providing.

"The children have been incredible. They are so resilient and have attacked the new way of learning with enthusiasm and such a positive attitude. Their smiles make everything worth it!."

The school has approximately 86% of pupils accessing online learning and are hoping this will increase as they plan to get laptops out to families who do not currently have access to technology.

Mrs White said that the teachers have been providing live lessons in English, Maths, PE, assemblies and story time, with younger classes being sent pre-recorded phonics and maths lessons. Children with additional needs are receiving 1:1 zoom sessions, linked specifically to their individual needs.

Headteacher of Newchurch St Mary’s Primary School, Mrs Pauline Nightingale, said that they are delighted they have been able to provide devices to families to ensure all their children have access to home schooling.

She said: "I have been so pleased that we have been able to give every pupil learning at home a Chromebook device so that they can join their classmates over Google Classroom.

"We are working with the CEO of the Trust to secure 4G wireless routers so that any remaining parents have reliable internet access. Parental feedback and support has been fantastic, reacting to the rapid changes and they are very much part of the team making this a success."

Meanwhile, at Great Marsden St John in Nelson said that the live lessons are of huge importance for the children to ensure they are receiving interaction about their work.

Headteacher Mrs Michaela Underwood said "Having the online infrastructure in place from the spring 2020 lockdown has been hugely advantageous.

"The facility to livestream lessons means that interaction with children is high and relationships maintained. The way that children, staff and parents have adapted, literally overnight, highlights the desire to achieve a common goal - the wellbeing and education of our precious children."

Online learning will continue for pupils until at least the February half term, with hopes that enough vaccines will have been administered to reduce lockdown restrictions.