Children across Wiltshire are excited at the prospect of a return to classrooms.

From 8 March, every school in England will reopen to all pupils after more than two months of homeschooling for most families.

Outdoor after school sports and activities will also restart.

Mercedes Henning is headteacher of the Holy Trinity CofE Primary Academy in Great Cheverell, near to Devizes.

She said: “We are, as you can imagine, completely delighted to be able to welcome every child back to school.

"We have been open to children of critical workers and vulnerable children throughout, but we long to have all our children back, chattering and laughing and filling up every corner of our school with their joy.”

She added: “ We have never believed that this is in any way a “lost generation” and we strongly challenge the idea that these children will suffer lasting harm from the lockdown.

“The difficulties they have experienced will have given them courage and resilience and will have helped them gain life skills which will improve their lives in the long term. Every generation has difficult things to deal with, and every generation makes a success of their world.

"We are standing ready to help every one of our children to continue on their learning journey with a sense of fun and excitement, knowing that everything that has happened to them is valuable life experience. This is going to be a generation to be proud of.”

Secondary schools such as The John of Gaunt School in Trowbridge has been asked to administer Lateral Flow Covid-19 tests before students return to their classroom.

Information sent out by the Department for Education says: "Schools and colleges will have discretion on how to phase the return of their students over the week beginning 8 March to allow them to be tested on return.

"After an initial programme of three tests in school or college, students will be provided with two rapid tests to use each week at home. Secondary school and college staff will also continue to be provided with two tests to use each week at home.’"

Paul Skipp, Headteacher at The John of Gaunt School said, ‘We are all really looking forward to seeing our students again. Our on line teaching has gone really well and our attendance across the last 6 weeks has been 97.4% which is brilliant, however, we know the best place for students to learn is in school and in front of their teacher.

He added: "We will do everything we can to ensure a safe, smooth transition back into school and as part of the process we will be offering all students a Lateral Flow tests. These will take place across the week beginning Monday March 8.

"Staff, students and parents have done a wonderful job with their remote live lessons but we are delighted that we can all finally come back into school.

Headteacher of Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Anita Ellis this week expressed her fears over rapid testing and told BBC Radio Wiltshire it would be a "challenge" to implement. 

But she added: “We’re really looking forward to receiving our students and welcoming them back.

“As teachers we’re incredibly adaptable and we take on a challenge and we say ‘we’re going to do this’ and yes there are nerves, yes we are nervous about all coming back."