It's definitely been a start to a school year like no other.

But with classrooms in Kent now open again we're finally ready to publish our fantastic First Class supplements.

This year's intake of reception pupils have had the most unusual start to their school journey.

Having entered school for the first time back in September, under very different circumstances because of the coronavirus pandemic, Kent's four and five-year-olds were only there until Christmas before classrooms closed.

Coronavirus also meant our popular First Class supplements, which capture children's first days and weeks in school, had to be delayed.

But not wishing to disappoint the families of any new starters, our First Class specials are now in production, to give parents of the county's newest pupils a wonderful keepsake of their most unusual first year.

Whilst Harvest festivals, concerts, nativities and Christmas parties may have been casualties of the pandemic in the past few months, we're delighted to have been able to capture a small part of these four and five-year-olds first time in school as they take tentative steps into the world of learning.

Our photographers have criss-crossed the county, taking all the necessary safety precautions, to capture moments from their first weeks in school which will stay with these youngsters and their parents forever.

And where we haven't been able to reach schools, some teachers and school staff have been able to send us photos of their newest classes instead.

And we are now preparing to bring all of these pictures together in First Class specials that will be released in less than a fortnight.

The colourful, brilliant annual supplements, which could be held in memory boxes for years to come, will be available from Wednesday, April 21 inside the following KM paid-for newspapers:

Kent Messenger

Medway Messenger

Gravesend and Dartford Messengers

Sheerness Times Guardian

Sittingbourne News

Kentish Gazette Group

Kentish Express Series

East Kent Mercury

Folkestone and Hythe Express

News from our universities, local primary and secondary schools can be found here in our new Education Directory.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent