PUPILS at Oak View Academy are managing to stay upbeat during lockdown, with teachers pulling out all the stops to keep spirits high.

With coronavirus causing all schools to be closed, except for children of key workers and vulnerable children, children are required to learn at home for the foreseeable future.

But inventive teachers at Oak View and Weaverham Primary Academy, have been finding all sorts of ways to keep the kids entertained.

Both schools are part of the North West Academies Trust, and teachers have been setting fun tasks alongside curriculum-based activities for pupils to enjoy, including story time with staff, fun quizzes and home baking ideas.

Pupils have also been able to demonstrate their teamwork skills while apart by filming themselves catching a toilet roll and throwing it out of shot, as if passing it to a classmate.

Northwich Guardian:

Fiona Whittaker, executive headteacher at both Oak View and Weaverham, said: "It's been quite a challenge, but our staff have been inspirational in their response to this difficult situation.

"We are setting daily English and maths tasks, which follow our usual curriculum but are adapted for home learning, and we are sending PowerPoint presentations from staff with links to helpful online videos.

"Outside of this, each class has been set a variety of fun activities that the children can choose from at home.

“They've been trying out different art activities in the sunshine such as shadow drawing, sharing work by sending in photos or doing it online, and younger children are doing phonics and engaging in play-based learning activities.

“We've had some amazing highlights, with one family building a Tudor style house and another baking bread from scratch.”