It’s back to school… in our terrific tepee! Teachers ensure pupils can return to class safely – by holding lessons in giant TENTS
- East Bergholt CofE VC Primary are using tepees for lessons, playing and lunch
- The inspiration came from Jenna Ackerley whose children go to the school
- The Suffolk school’s head teacher said it was a ‘brilliant idea’ that ‘the kids love ‘
Soaring 26ft up into the air, these tepees are one school’s way of ensuring pupils can return to class safely.
The two giant tents can be used for lessons, playing and eating lunch while allowing more space to follow social-distancing rules.
The inspiration came from Jenna Ackerley, whose children Max, six, and Evie, five, are pupils at East Bergholt CofE VC Primary in Suffolk.
She is also is the director of Events Under Canvas which normally provides tents for weddings and parties.
Soaring 26ft up into the air, these tepees (pictured) are one school’s way of ensuring pupils can return to class safely. Pictured left to right: Lana, 6, Evie, 5, Max, 6, and James, 7
The two giant tents can be used for lessons, playing and eating lunch while allowing more space to follow social-distancing rules. Pictured: Children having a socially-distanced lesson in the tepee
The inspiration came from Jenna Ackerley (woman pictured) , whose children Max (left), six, and Evie (right), five, are pupils at East Bergholt CofE VC Primary in Suffolk
Mrs Ackerley, 39, said: ‘We just really wanted to help.
‘All of our staff have been furloughed but they wanted to keep busy.
‘We usually do 250 events in a season and suddenly we were hardly doing any at all.
‘But we’re a community-focused team and most of the staff either went to this school or have children here.
‘We all got our heads together and thought this would be a great well to help out and provide a fun space for the pupils.
The tepees were put up (pictured) on the Thursday during half term
‘I knew the headteacher was struggling to work out how to bring more children back safely and in-keeping with government guidelines, so it felt like a good thing we could do.
‘Lots of parents and teachers have commented on it, and it’s very exciting for the children.’
The tepees were put up on the Thursday during half term.
Children of reception age, plus some Year One and Year Six students, started back at school last Monday and were greeted by the sight of the towering structures.
Headteacher Gill Mitchell said: ‘We thought it was a brilliant idea and said yes straight away.
Headteacher Gill Mitchell said: ‘We’ve put our dining tables (pictured) in them so they can eat lunch there, and soon we’ll be introducing lessons in there too’
‘It’s a great way to encourage outdoor learning, which is recommended at the moment.
‘They’ll be with us until the end of term, by which point we may have more year groups back in.
‘We’ve put our dining tables in them so they can eat lunch there, and soon we’ll be introducing lessons in there too.
‘They have proper mats on the floor, which are easy to clean, so we’re hoping to be able to do outdoor science and writing in there too.
‘The kids all love it. It made them excited to come back in.’