COED Eva Primary School pupils have returned to lessons for the first time since a fire on New Year’s Day which destroyed the infant and nursery building.

Children from the infants started their term a week behind schedule, while it is hoped that nursery pupils will return next Monday (January 18).

Work is ongoing to install temporary classrooms, which are due to arrive on Friday, to try and return a sense of normality to the ravaged school site.

Speaking in special assemblies yesterday head teacher Gill Ellis addressed children and said: “In a time of darkness, we stand together - we are a true values school."

She told the Argus: “I was standing at the front gate in the morning to welcome back the children and talk to any parents and relatives there. The fantastic community spirit shown, and from those outside the school too, has been great.”

In total, 410 of the 510 pupils at Coed Eva were able to resume their lessons yesterday.

Staff were briefed on coping with questions and issues from the pupils on their first day back, and Mrs Ellis was pleased with the response of the children.

“It was important for the staff, and myself included, that we found a way to address the fire in a manageable way for the children,” she said.

“We wanted to explain to the children that the school is more than the bricks of the building.”

Classrooms have been adapted to cope with children being taught in different rooms, as well as the facilities, with toilets in the main building lowered in some cases.

Mrs Ellis added: “As I’ve said before, there can be no compromise on the level of education that our children receive at this school.

“We have installed a memory tree and feeling boxes for the children too, as well increased our pastoral care and circle time – it’s important we understand how the pupils are feeling.”

Parents praised the swift action of the school to get the building back into a useable state.

“It’s been brilliant to see the majority of the kids back in school,” said Jayne Worsfold, 47, of Hollybush View, Hollybush.

“My granddaughter is in the nursery so she isn’t back just yet and she was upset that she couldn’t come into school after she had put her uniform on.”

Rhiannon Ivins, 25, of Sunnybank, Henllys, whose daughter returned to lessons yesterday, thanked the staff for their constant updates.

“The school have kept us informed the whole time about what has gone on and credit must go to them,” said Mrs Ivins.

“We all hope the school will come back stronger as a result of this.”

Mother-of-two Claire Williams called it "remarkable".

“It is amazing to see the progress that the school has made since the fire and much of the work has been done within the week,” she said.