After six months of home schooling, quarantining, and social distancing, the children in all 13 Wessex Learning Trust schools in the Cheddar area were finally welcomed back on site this week as schools re-opened fully for the first time since March 23.

Schools had previously closed in a bid to stem the spread of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but now - despite a tumultuous few months - staff and students were excited to be back in school, and in some ways back to normal.

As soon as they walked through the gates and there were many happy faces, as well as anxious catch-ups between those who haven't seen each other for potentially six months.

For many of learners, this week is, of course, mostly about settling into a new school, getting to know new places and names, and getting comfortable.

In order to help those children who were transitioning, many schools staggered their re-opening with some years coming back on Monday, and all others joining them later in the week.

It wasn't just a big day for the children either, as for many of the staff this was the first time they had been able to be back in the classroom, teaching face to face, since schools closed.

Little in terms of teaching has changed in the schools, with teachers still delivering their lessons in their classrooms to their normal groups of learners.

Of course, some things have had to be altered in the wake of Covid-19, with changes most noticeable when walking around the schools - for instance one-way systems in place in corridors, regularly positioned bottles of hand sanitiser, and staggered entry and exit points at the start and end of the day.

Each year group is also kept within their own "bubble" to ensure that groups aren't able to mix and risk spreading the virus.

Staff have made a particular effort to make sure that the changes around the site aren't too daunting, particularly for the younger students.

Chief executive of the trust, Gavin Ball, hailed the success of the return and thanked staff and students for their "calm return to schools, and considerate understanding of the additional rules and measures in place to keep them safe".