Swine flu girl back at school
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl whose school closed after she contracted swine flu was back in class yesterday.
Pupils at St Paul's Primary School, in Longton, were sent home last Tuesday after the girl, who has not been named, became ill.
She did not need hospital treatment and had fully recovered by the time the school reopened yesterday.
The majority of parents were happy for their children to return to St Paul's after the seven-day closure, although some kept their kids at home.
Twenty-three of the school's 200 pupils were absent yesterday, although a spokesman for Stoke-on-Trent City Council said the reasons why were not known.
Keeley Shaw, from Longton, brought her children Bradley, aged nine, Tia, aged eight, and four-year-old Takera back to school.
The 27-year-old said: "I panicked a bit when I first heard about the swine flu, because Bradley hasn't been well anyway so his immune system is down.
"The school did the right thing in closing, but I'm happy for them to go back as long as everywhere has been thoroughly cleaned."
Gavin and Amanda Britchfield, from Moss Green, have two sons James, aged six, and three-year-old Liam. Mrs Britchfield, aged 26, said: "We were worried at first because the case was in James's class.
"It was right to close the school and it hasn't caused us any problems."
Mr Britchfield, aged 27, added: "The school has been cleaned so I think a week was long enough for it to be closed. We're happy for them to go back."
Health officials said no further cases had been reported at the Byatt's Grove school, and the illness had not been transmitted.
Neville Oakes, from Dresden, walked his 10-year-old daughter Georgina back to school yesterday.
The 52-year-old said: "I think it was a good thing to close the school because I think it could have worried the children otherwise.
"I haven't been worried because I've got complete faith in the headteacher."
Father-of-three Michael Orpe, who has one daughter, nine-year-old Alanna, at St Paul's, said: "We've heard the school's been cleaned and it was only a mild case so I think it's fine for them to go back.
"It has been worrying because I've got two younger children, but they've been fine."
Headteacher Sandra Hearson said everyone was glad to have the school open again.
"Parents and pupils are as delighted as the staff that the school has been reopened," she said. "We can now get back to normal working and enjoy school life until the end of the summer term a week on Friday."
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