SECONDARY schools in Inverclyde are ensuring new-starts who missed out on their induction because of the coronavirus lockdown are still being given a warm welcome.

Staff at each of the area’s six high schools have had to think outside the box to connect with current primary sevens who will be joining them next term.

The special measures include welcome videos and virtual tours to allow pupils and their families to familiarise themselves with their new surroundings when they eventually reopen.

Teachers at Inverclyde Academy produced two short films introducing themselves to the next intake of first years and showing the young people around the building.

School staff will also be delivering over 120 welcome bags to each of the new S1 pupils to make sure they have the essentials they need to hit the ground running with their secondary education.

Each bag contains items such as a school tie, polo shirt, stationery, comic book and the bag itself can be used as a school bag.

Denise Crawford, Inverclyde Academy head teacher, said: “The children who have been coming to the key worker childcare hub here at the school have been helping to make up the bags along with our pupil support staff because they will be the first point of contact for the new first years at the school.”

P7s who will begin their secondary education next term would normally attend each of the six Inverclyde high schools for an induction before the summer break.

The coronavirus lockdown put paid to that but staff across the district have been working on alternative measures, including welcome videos.

They have been posted online on YouTube and school social media channels.

Gordon Livingstone, who is Inverclyde Academy depute head teacher and in charge of the new S1s, said: “Although it’s a real shame we can’t welcome students into the school as normal this month, we’re using technology, along with traditional methods, to reach out to pupils in different ways that we wouldn’t have been able to do before.

“It was the idea of science and ICT teacher John Harkins and by putting them on YouTube has allowed us to reach a bigger audience, including parents and grandparents.

"The virtual tour video alone was viewed over one thousand times in just four days.

Meanwhile Ms Crawford and her team have also been working round the clock to put measures in place to support home learning.

The head teacher said: "First of all we look after health and wellbeing - that is our top priority.

"We have pupil support teachers phoning home every week.

"If we have a family in difficulty we make sure they get help from the foodbank.

"If there is a mum struggling with home schooling, we get them a place in the child care hub.

"We look after the whole community.

"We are part of it, our school is used by the community and the support we have had is overwhelming.

"It is privilege to work in this school."