Pupils return to in-person lessons after Okehampton SEND school destroyed by fire

  • ITV News' Richard Lawrence speaks to pupils and teachers in their new accommodation.

All pupils at a school for SEND children destroyed by a fire in Okehampton are expected to return to classroom-based learning by the end of next week.

Contractors are working at three sites around the town to provide new temporary classrooms for The Promise School pupils who have been working at home for more than a fortnight.

A disused wing of Okehampton Primary School is one of the locations being used for the children's return.

Headteacher Quentin Gunderson said: "We have to make the spaces safe, but we also have to make them feel homely and welcoming."

Headteacher Quentin Gunderson is grateful for the community's support.

He added: "We are phasing their return back, just so it's not so overwhelming and we're getting used to working in this space."

On Monday 9 March, Mr Gunderson explained: "We've had our year elevens back all last week - they've been back in again doing their mock exams today. Our primary will start returning from tomorrow, and then the rest of school will be from sometime next week."

He noted: "Our parents have been so understanding and patient. It's not easy when your child doesn't have their school."The mother of one pupil explained it has been a "struggle" to entertain her son over the last two weeks.

Kat Carthew has been taking her son to work with her.

Kat Carthew says the situation has been hard to manage with her 10-year-old son Tommy, alongside running her photography business in Tiverton,

She said: "Trying to navigate life with a SEND child, a business, five other children, trying to do everything... "It's alright so far, but it's trying to keep him entertained - because he's on-the-go all the time."Ms Carthew explained: "He's completely out of routine and he has had some moments of dysregulation."

She added: "With a SEND child, they are like ten children in one."

According to her, the school's response has been "phenomenal" and Tommy has received a laptop and workbooks, but he is still struggling without his usual routine.

Although he is due to have some in-person lessons on Wednesday and Friday, Ms Carthew is concerned Tommy won't want to attend these classes in a new location.

"Hopefully it goes smoothly, but with a SEND child, you can't guarantee," she said.

Teacher Christen Janes, known as CJ by the children, is looking forward to welcoming her pupils back.

Mrs Janes has been preparing the new room for her pupils.

She said the school has had "lots of support" in the form of donations and other help. She explained: "While we were waiting and doing online learning, we were printing and getting everything laminated and ready to go for when we could get in a space."Everything in here is exactly as it was in my original room, I printed all the same materials for them."She added: "Everything is the same - to their name plates on the desk, their social and emotional check-ins, their schedules..."

Ms Janes noted that this "consistency and routine" is key for the SEND pupils. "That is so important to them, it's how they thrive," she said.

The Promise School blaze started on Sunday 22 February and firefighters tackled it overnight.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said 18 crews attended at the height of the fire, with six fire appliances, two aerial ladder platforms and two water carriers used.

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