Pupils at Wateringbury Primary School have spoken about missing school, how they view the coronavirus and the creative ways they are staying busy.

It has been nearly eight weeks since school gates shut to all but the offspring of key workers and children at the Stanley Road establishment have offered KentOnline a glimpse into their daily lives, in this 'new normal'.

Speaking before the government said primary schools could reopen to some years in June, Louie Butler, 11, said he was "definitely" looking forward to returning to Wateringbury Primary.

Asked how he felt when told he could no longer go to school, the cello player replied: "I was a bit angry and sad. I was annoyed with coronavirus, messing things up."

Louie, from Nettlestead, says he is finding working from home a bit tricky.

"We are learning everything from home and it's new. We are doing ratios and proportions and that's a bit tricky for me.

"But I do enjoy it, I get it all done in the morning then we go outside," he said.

He misses his friends but FaceTimes his best pal Henry, while both work on their assignments set by teachers.

The ins and outs of coronavirus are a "a bit complicated" for him, he says, adding: "Some bits I understand, some bits I don't. I was a bit worried before but now I'm fine because I found out more about it and my mum told me not to worry."

Getting an extra hour of shut eye does not compare to swinging on tyres in the playground with friends, according to Maya Shepelev.

Maya runs circles around her garden before starting work with her older sister Lola, 11.

Speaking about when she was first informed of the closure, Maya said: "I was quite pleased but then after a couple of days I was a bit miserable and I'm missing friends a lot.

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"I am missing my teachers because they are really supportive, Miss Rosh is my favourite teacher. She can get a bit angry sometimes because of some of the boys in class but she's really kind and makes learning fun."

Asked about her thoughts on the pandemic, she said: "I have been told it's a pandemic and its spread across the world quite quickly.

"Sometimes I feel fine but sometimes I feel a bit scared because my dad still goes to work and he might bring back germs."

Her dad, Alexey, is a postman.

Summer Wilson, 10, from Wateringbury, has been busy drawing insects and snakes for her favourite class, art.

She misses school "quite a bit", especially seeing her teachers and best friend Dottie.

Asked about her understanding of coronavirus, she responds that she has been told to "keep washing our hands and stay clean".

Summer is not worried about herself, just about family and friends.

Budding poets at the school have also been writing about their lockdown experience.

Here is a poem by Ellie Angear, seven, titled Blue Class Poem:

We are bright, creative, blue class with flair,

That makes beaming rainbows with a quick swish though the air.

Take care with style and share your tasty treats,

as our cupcakes are beyond compare.

Hopefully this will zoom past and we will be away

from our broom cupboard rooms and back in to school very soon

Meanwhile, other students have been paying tribute to the NHS by making rainbows out of flowers and toys.

Chasey Crawford-Usher, head teacher of Wateringbury Primary, said: "I am in daily email and phone contact with a large number of families on a wide range of issues and it's a challenge to keep up with it all. But the emails which cause me to drop everything and reply instantly are the ones from the children with photos of their work.

"These put a huge smile on my face and it's almost as if that child has popped down to my office at school and I'm talking to them face to face. The variety of learning and imaginative play have been wonderful to see and parents are sharing ideas and learning from each other.

"There is no question that children are desperately missing school and the social aspect, particularly. There is no substitute for that and it is something that concerns parents and staff deeply.

"We have set up class conference calls so the children can see each other and their teacher. This has certainly lifted the children's spirits. Like adults, children are managing this time in a way which is entirely unique to themselves.

"Some are more resilient and have remained positive and motivated; others have found it very difficult. There is no question that we will be addressing a wide range of social and emotional issues when we return to school.

"We have weekly staff meetings where we share our successes and concerns and that has meant that every child is under our radar and we are able to discuss where support for families is urgently needed.

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