- Title: British boy starts virtual lessons amid coronavirus lockdown
- Date: 24th March 2020
- Summary: BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, UK (MARCH 24, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEADMASTER AT ST. JOHN'S BEAUMONT SCHOOL, GILES DELANEY, SAYING: "Whilst for decades and generations we've developed this understanding of how children learn, the idea of mental health is much, much newer and we're still trying to understand how children respond to different challenges. And this is an unprecedented challenge." SURREY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 24, 2020) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) WIDE OF TERRINGTON GETTING DRESSED FOR SCHOOL VARIOUS OF TERRINGTON BUTTONING SCHOOL SHIRT AND STYLING HAIR SURREY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 24, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) 11-YEAR-OLD PUPIL AT ST. JOHN'S BEAUMONT SCHOOL, HARRISON TERRINGTON, SAYING: "I kind of don't like it [WEARING THE SCHOOL UNIFORM], because like we're at home and everything. But because it's school, we have to wear it." SURREY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 24, 2020) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TERRINGTON AT DESK SURREY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 24, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) 11-YEAR-OLD PUPIL AT ST. JOHN'S BEAUMONT SCHOOL, HARRISON TERRINGTON, SAYING: "I kind of don't like that I don't get to be outside more, because sport is my favourite thing, and my art and stuff like that. But I wouldn't mind it, if I had to do it I would. But I'd rather be at school than do it this long."
- Embargoed: 7th April 2020 19:50
- Keywords: Britain in lockdown coronavirus home schooling lockdown virtual school
- Location: SURREY & BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, UK
- City: SURREY & BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA002C6EXLC7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Just like on any other school day, 11-year-old Harrison Terrington got dressed in his uniform on Tuesday (March 24). But having dressed and carefully styled his hair, Harrison logged on for his second day of home learning amid the coronavirus lockdown that has closed all schools across the UK.
Harrison is one of 290 boys from St John's Beaumont preparatory school in Old Windsor, Berkshire, who are now taking part in virtual lessons taught by teachers also confined to their homes.
Key to the school's approach is keeping tabs on the children's mental well-being during the unprecedented measures that have been taken to try and curb the spread of the coronavirus.
"They identify themselves as being at St. John's. And of course, they're no longer in the building," headmaster Giles Delaney told Reuters via a web interview.
"And what can we do to maintain that identity? So we've insisted the boys wear their uniform because that's something that's routine. We've kept the morning prayer. We've kept the start of the day as much as we can."
Wearing his school uniform while not actually at school did seem strange to Harrison. He said the prospect of this way of learning going on for weeks wasn't ideal.
"I wouldn't mind it, if I had to do it I would. But I'd rather be at school than do it this long," said Harrison.
On Tuesday, the death toll from coronavirus in the United Kingdom had jumped by 87 to a total of 422 - the biggest daily increase since the crisis began.
In a televised address to the nation on Monday evening (March 23), Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered people to stay at home, told nearly all shops to close and banned social gatherings including weddings and baptisms.
Under the curbs on movement, people should leave their homes only for very limited reasons such as going to supermarkets for vital supplies or for exercise once a day.
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