A HEADTEACHER of a Northwich school has warned parents to expect supermarket-style queues outside the school gates when children return to class next week.

The Government has given the green light for Reception, Year One and Year Six pupils to return to school from Monday as the five key tests required for the easing of the lockdown have been met.

Schools preparing to welcome more children back have implemented a range of measures to help keep them safe, from new rules for parents at drop-off times to one-way systems in the corridors.

Hartford Manor Primary School is taking a 'phased approach' by reopening to 100 more pupils over successive days from June 8.

Headteacher Simon Kidwell explained the measures the school has taken in preparation for welcoming pupils back next week. He said parents will queue at drop-off and pick-up times, classroom windows will be open to ensure good ventilation, extra cleaners have been employed and water fountains, as 'hotspots for transmission', have been removed.

Northwich Guardian:

He said: "Social distancing for adults is going to be stringent, with a dropping-off system where parents will have to queue a bit like at the supermarket.

"The children will be kept in 'bubbles' of 15 to ensure social distancing between each other by using cones in the playground.

"We have also installed 37 new hand washing stations, which are like troughs with warm water and soap for children to wash their hands before entering the building.

"It's important for children that class looks as normal as possible but no longer will we be able to have 400 children running around and playing together at lunch time."

READ>How Northwich car showrooms reopened today as lockdown was eased

Schools, colleges and nurseries closed more than nine weeks ago due to the Covid-19 outbreak, remaining open only for vulnerable youngsters and the children of key workers.

The decision to go ahead with a phased return to school from June 1 came after education unions and council leaders urged the Government to reconsider the proposals amid safety concerns.