Children arrive for class with temperature checks and social distancing in the playground

An independent French bilingual school in Battersea has opened as they try to emerge into normality amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The L’Ecole de Battersea in west London, which teaches those aged between three and 11, opened its doors for pupils on Thursday.

It comes as the head of Ofsted has told teachers they need to adopt a more ‘can do’ and ‘optimistic approach’ to reopening schools.

Upon arrival children had their temperatures checked as a precaution against coronavirus

Staff wore face masks and lab coats as another safety measure against the deadly disease

Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of schools, today piled the pressure on teachers to do more to get children back into the classroom as soon as possible.

And Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer today urged Boris Johnson to turn the nation’s empty theatres, museums, libraries and leisure centres into classrooms to speed up pupils’ return to education.

The Government has U-turned on its ‘ambition’ to get all primary school children back into lessons before the summer holidays, as ministers admitted social distancing rules and smaller class sizes made it impossible.

Upon arrival at the L’Ecole de Battersea, the children were greeted by members of staff who all wore the necessary safety precautions against the disease.

Staff were pictured in white lab coats and red face masks which covered their mouths and noses.

Before the pupils could begin classes they had their temperatures checked with a scanning device pointed towards their foreheads.

To ensure hygiene was maintained too, the children had their hands individually sanitised. 

Playtime was different for the kids as they were forced to keep their distance in line with the social distancing guidelines in affect.

Children had their hands sanitised upon entry at the L’Ecole de Battersea on Thursday

The independent French bilingual school in Battersea teaches pupils between three and 11

The playground was cordoned off in different sections and within that there were markers for the children to stand within where they hula-hooped.

L’Ecole de Battersea’s return comes the same day that Spielman has told teachers they need to adopt a more ‘can do’ and ‘optimistic approach’ to reopening schools.

Head teachers have said that without changes to the current two metre social distancing rule it will be ‘impossible’ for all children to return in September – something Spielman disagrees with.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘I would like to hear a much more optimistic approach.

‘I think it should be about what we can do, not about what we can’t do.

‘Many schools are already showing that within the public health guidance that sets the expectation for these bubbles of 15 children there’s a great deal that can be done.

‘It is also important to remember that within the bubbles social distancing is an aspiration, not an absolute expectation.

‘The risk to children themselves is very low indeed and those in education should take some confidence from that.

‘It’s about starting from the position of seeing what can we create, how far we can go?’