A WEST Devon primary school is bucking the national trend and opening to all year groups — every day — from today.

Princetown Community Primary School is in a unique position to open up classrooms for all year groups each day from 8.45am to noon and will still be able to adhere to government guidelines of up to 15 pupils per classroom for social distancing measures.

Schools around the country opened up their classrooms for Foundation, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils on June 1 — but unless children from other year groups were children of key workers then these year groups were advised to stay home until September.

Headteacher of Princetown Emma Byrom said: ‘We opened on June 1 to Foundation, Years 1 and 6 and found that we could actually open up for all year groups. We are fortunate with the space that we have got here and we want nothing more than to see the children back and luckily we have staff that are happy and willing to come back. We do have a couple of children staying at home but the majority of the pupils, all from Princetown, will be back.’

Children are being put into three groups of up to 15 — Foundation, Years 1 and 2 and Years 3, 4 and 5. Year 6 will be in their own bubble.

Miss Byrom, who started her role at the school in September last year, added: ‘I understand that it is not possible everywhere but we are in a position that we can and we want our children back. We will have to wait and see what happens in September but we should be able to open all day for all year groups.’

One parent whose child has returned to Princetown primary said that it had been the best setting for her daughter to build her ‘confidence’ after time away from school.

‘Obviously with smaller numbers it’s easier to maintain social distancing than perhaps the larger schools but my child has felt comfortable going back and I feel the changes that the virus situation has brought about have been explained to her in a way that she has understood and has not caused her any additional concerns. She is slowly building her confidence up again after a period of time without her peers and teachers and I cannot think of a better setting where she could do this.’

Many schools in West Devon have opened their doors to the advised year groups and children of key workers, with some also opening up for nursery aged pupils.

St Andrew’s C of E Primary School in Buckland Monachorum opened up fully for Foundation and Year 1 pupils only — but had an above average attendance.

Justin Jones, deputy headteacher, said: ‘As we have such a high number of key workers across the school, we have only been able to open fully to Foundation and Year 1 with all other space across the school allocated to key workers.

‘We have 40 per cent of the school back in total — I believe the national average for primary school attendance at present is only 11 per cent.’

Local education authority Devon County Council said it was up to parents to decide whether their children should return to school.