First day at school: Thousands of Leicestershire four-year-olds head for class

They say your school days are the best of your life and they got under way yesterday for thousands of youngsters.

Four-year-olds across Leicestershire took their first, life-changing steps in a brave new world of teachers, uniforms, lunch boxes and lessons.

It is also a time parents remember and treasure forever, and the Mercury was on hand at several schools to capture the excitement of the day.

Chloe Dalby, four, was so looking forward to starting at All Saints Primary, in Wigston, she had her uniform on hours before she needed to, said mum Kerry.

"She's been so excited," said Kerry, 28, from the town.

"She has some friends here already and her brother, Eddie, in the year above.

"Every day throughout the holidays, Chloe has been asking if it's time to put her new uniform on.

"Thankfully, the day has finally come.

"It's made it a whole lot easier for me. I was more nervous than her."

Also excited to be starting at the school yesterday were twins Ella-Mae and Finlay Clarke, four.

Mum Meryl, 26, of Wigston, said: "They went to the pre-school so they already have some friends and it makes it a bit easier that they have one another.

"Finlay has a few hearing issues he's had to overcome, but the teachers here have been brilliant in making us feel relaxed.

"Ella tends to be the more bossy one, but that might change."

Rhavesh Mistry, of Wigston, took daughter Henna to All Saints yesterday, accompanied by her grandmother, Rurukmani Mistry.

Rhavesh said: "She's been a little bit nervous but I'm sure it won't take her long to settle in."

Their class teacher and foundation stage co-ordinator, Amy Vickerman, has just started at the school herself.

She said: "We had some children starting in the morning and some this afternoon.

"We like to ease them in gradually, so both groups only spend half a day with us to begin with. Next week, they will begin doing full days.

"It's about getting them used to their new surroundings.

"There are lots of happy faces so I think we've got off to a good start."

Youngsters at Green Lane Infant School, in Spinney Hills, Leicester, also got off to a good start, according to foundation stage teacher Debbie Brown.

"We know it can be an anxious time but it's the parents who seem to be worse than the children sometimes," she said.

"It was a fantastic morning and only one youngster was in tears.

"They're just extremely excited and thrilled to be here."

Foxton Primary, near Market Harborough, had 11 starters yesterday.

Head teacher Phil Clark said: "They all seem to love their uniform and that's probably the biggest change for them as they all went to the pre-school and already know one another, and their class teacher, as lots of her activities are linked to the pre-school for that very reason. We're really pleased."

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