Life in Lancashire is returning to normal following national Covid-19 changes

Life in Lancashire has been getting back to normal after the county has taken its first steps on the national coronavirus roadmap.

Schools have welcomed all children back to their classrooms and care home residents have been able to nominate one regular indoor visitor.

Schools have been transformed into a sea of colour as teachers and pupils have been enjoying classrooms being open to all once again.

St Marys Roman Catholic Primary School in Clayton-le-Moors have been celebrating in style with a birthday party week. Each class took it in turns day by day to go into the hall and have a party. The chef baked a cake for the whole class.

Headteacher, Michael Mashiter said: “The children have absolutely loved it, it’s been a good way of easing the anxiety of coming back to school, they got to enjoy themselves with their friends.”

At St John with St Augustine Church of England Primary School in Accrington, children have had a rainbow week where each class has been assigned a colour. Each colour has been assigned a theme and children have completed tasks based on that theme.

Headteacher Mr M Proctor said: “We’ve tried to make it fun for them, they’ve completed interactive tasks and quizzes in the first week, it’s been nice for them all to get together as a group again.”

The rainbow theme continued at St Stephen’s Primary School in Burnley. Pupils built a rainbow themed balloon arc to show that they hope the ‘rainbow is the end of the rain.’

Mrs Roberts, the headteacher said “We have made a fuss of the children when they have a birthday because they have all missed out so much on these special milestones in their lives.

“We thought it would be a lovely idea to add a ‘happy box’ to our classrooms, so that children have an opportunity to share their happy thoughts, as well as their worries.”

There has also been a big change in county council-run care homes where people have been reunited with their friends, family and loved ones in person once again.

Residents can now nominate one regular visitor who can see them in person, provided they have a negative coronavirus test.

At Woodlands Home for Older People, Kath Bell and her daughter Lynne have held hands with each other for the first time in 12 months.

Gina Lone, registered manager at the home, said: “Kath has just become a great grandma to baby Ida and Lynne told her in this visit. It was a wonderful moment.”

At Favordale Home for Older People in Colne, Linda and Carol have seen their mothers May Gallagher and Rita Wildman for the first time this week.

Sandra Horgan, senior care assistant at the home, said: “We have two beautiful mothers being visited by their daughters.

“Up until now, each daughter has only been able to do window visits, although nice and reassuring, it’s not the same as being up close and able to chat properly. It was a very emotional time for both mothers and their daughters.”

At Woodside Home for Older People in Padiham, Margaret Maudsley who visits her husband Kenneth had her first face-to-face visit since the pandemic began at the weekend.

Val Smith, assistant care manager at the home, said: “Margaret has been coming to the window throughout the pandemic, Kenneth is on the dementia unit here and it was very difficult for them. They were overjoyed with the face to face visiting this week.”

County Councillor Geoff Driver CBE, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “It’s tremendous to see Lancashire’s school classrooms open for all pupils and great that visitors can once again see their friends and family in our care homes.

“These examples highlight what the changes set out in the roadmap mean to people and how returning to more normal day-to-day life is making a huge difference to them.

“This ongoing pandemic is tough for everyone, but each step we take coming out of lockdown will be a step towards living the way we all know and recognise.”

To find out more about changes to county council services because of the coronavirus restrictions, visit www.lancashire.gov.uk.