As we near the end of most children's first week back in the classroom, Helsby High School has published a series of insights on its website, reflecting on the efforts undertaken by staff and pupils to keep learning through lockdown.

Over 39 days, teachers delivered 195 hours of live lessons over MS Teams, and form tutors, pastoral care leaders and student support coordinators carried out more than 2,000 welfare calls.

As part of a Department for Education scheme, Helsby High School was also able to provide laptops to every student that needed one.

The 100 devices made available were sourced not only from the DfE, but also from local people. Two Helsby residents kindly donated laptops to the school and a Kingsley couple gave £500 towards the purchase of new computers.

Last week, in preparation for Monday's return to in-person lessons, 1,200 pupils took rapid lateral flow Covid tests to help make the school's reopening as safe as possible.

From now on, students will be tested twice a week, first in school and then at home.

On the final day of home-schooling, Head Teacher Martin Hill thanked parents for their help in promoting learning in lockdown.

"As students make their final preparations this weekend for their return to school, thank you for the way you have supported and encouraged them through their eight weeks of remote learning this year, keeping them going right up to [the end] so that their education and progress can continue seamlessly on their return to classrooms next week," he wrote.