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More on KentOnline
A head teacher is confident the progress of the Covid vaccination programme means schools are safe as pupils return.
James Kendall, head at Riverview Junior School in Gravesend, said the majority of his school's staff had been vaccinated with most due to receive both jabs by the summer.
The 47-year-old said: "I think everyone, including teachers, that work on the frontline, should be vaccinated as soon as possible.
"So far, over 80% of our school staff have received their first vaccination and the plan is to have all of our staff vaccinated with both injections by June."
Mr Kendall's school's vaccination success comes as pupils across the country return to school for the first time since December.
He added: "Although most staff have been at school throughout the pandemic, there are mixed feelings today, but most are thrilled and excited to welcome the children back.
"The school has written full and comprehensive risk assessments in line with Public Health England and Department for Education guidance to ensure protective measures are in place for every aspect of returning to school.
"I think the rollout of the vaccine has been the single biggest area of achievement since the pandemic began.
"Our staff have been lucky to get the vaccine, it was completely random.
"We were contacted by vaccination centres, they asked us if we had staff available to get the vaccine there and then as they had spare injections due to people not turning up to their appointment.
"It was definitely a luck of the draw situation but as far as I'm aware other schools in the community have also been given the same opportunity."
Mr Kendall's appreciation of the vaccine roll out comes after one of his pupils wrote to Boris Johnson, asking the Prime Minister to vaccinate all teachers.
The government policy is to continue rolling out vaccination by age groups but critics argued frontline workers like school staff and emergency workers are at greater risk due to the nature of their jobs and should be given higher priority in the priority lists.
But officials said it would be too complicated and take longer to organise vaccines based on an individual's occupation.
Jeevan Virk, nine, wrote the letter and drew Boris's portrait in exchange for teachers vaccines so his school life could go back to normal.
His head teacher said: "Jeevan is a caring, thoughtful boy who often considers issues way beyond his years.
"He simply wants everyone to be ok and in my opinion, there is no better trait to have.
"I agree with Jeevan's request, but it is a difficult task to balance the need to preserve life with the pressure to protect the front line work force.
"However, I think the roll out of the vaccine has been a success."
