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Kids return to school in Moray


By Alistair Whitfield

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Excitement was mixed with a touch of nervousness at school gates across Moray this morning.

Primary One to Three pupils return to school at Elgin's West End Primary School... Picture: Daniel Forsyth..
Primary One to Three pupils return to school at Elgin's West End Primary School... Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

From today, youngsters in the first three years of Scotland's primaries are allowed back to school for the first time since the beginning of January.

Shelley Mackenzie walked up to West End Primary in Elgin with her daughters Emily (7) and Katie (6).

After seeing them both safely inside, Shelley, who runs the Highland Baked Potato on Harrow Inn Close, said: "In our case, home schooling has been brilliant.

"The teachers obviously put in a lot of effort and it was really interesting and well-done.

"In fact, I actually ended up learning loads about the rainforest and the Arctic myself.

"The whole situation has allowed me to spend a lot of time with the girls.

"But I'm really happy for them to be able to see their friends again."

Nikki Morgan came to West End Primary with her youngest son Oliver (8).

She said: "I'm a little bit anxious because he really didn't want to come today.

"However he's just seen some of his friends and he seems to have cheered up a bit.

"They've all been off school so much this last year – it's a big step.

"Hopefully, it will go well today and we won't have any problems tomorrow."

Nikki, a portrait photographer, spoke of her sadness that her other son, Brodie (11), was having to stay home.

She said: "Brodie been very good at getting on with his work at home, but that's not been my main concern.

"He and the other children in his year have missed out so much on the social side of things.

"They haven't been able to go on school trips. They haven't been able to go to parties.

"Brodie only started at West End last February.

"Since then he's only been at school for 16 out of the 52 weeks.

"He'll be going up to Elgin Academy next year and I'm really hoping he'll have developed a strong circle of friends around him beforehand."


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