PUPILS at a North Somerset school extensively damaged in a devastating fire over half term are back at school today (Tuesday, June 6).

But the children from four classes at the Yatton Schools infant school will be in unfamiliar classrooms as they are being taught at two other schools for the rest of the summer term.

They are having lessons at St Andrew’s School, in Congresbury, and Chestnut Park School, in Yatton, for the next six weeks.

Structural engineers and insurers have assessed the rest of Yatton school site to ensure it is safe and demolition has already begun on the areas most seriously damaged in the blaze.

Jo Keeble, headteacher of Yatton Schools, has made arrangements to ensure the children feel settled and connected following the disruption.

Those who are using classrooms at other schools will still arrive and depart from Yatton every day so that “children can have time together on our site as well for their friendships, feelings of safety at Yatton and their mental health and wellbeing" said Miss Keeble.

She added: "We will be working with parents to help manage the children’s emotions around what has happened and help them understanding that whilst what has happened is very sad this will be a fun and exciting new challenge for the whole school”.

Pupils in the Junior School building (Years 3 to 6) are unaffected and will be educated in their usual classrooms.

READ MORE: Yatton school partially burnt down in fire.

Temporary classrooms will be put in place over the summer holidays so that all year groups can be taught onsite from the new school year starting in September 2023.

The rebuild of the infant school is currently being planned and is expected to take at least a year.

Gary Lewis, Chief Executive of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership, of which the school is a member, has praised all of those involved.

He said: “Over the past week the school and rust have been inundated with offers of help and support from the local community and the generosity from both Chestnut Park and St Andrew’s means that we can continue with the education of the children despite these tragic circumstances.

"Thank you to all who have pulled together to help - staff, governors, contractors and local businesses - to ensure this happens.

"It is a long road ahead but knowing the support is there means a lot to Miss Keeble and her staff.”