Why our teachers deserve our thanks during coronavirus pandemic

This is just one of the touching messages to our city’s army of teachers who have been working above and beyond to make sure that children are supported as best they can at a time of global crisis.

It has been tough on so many levels as the city went into lockdown forcing us to rethink the way we educate Leeds.

Parents have been faced with the challenge of home-schooling their children, while teachers have been parted from their classes as they rely on emails and calls to check in for support.

But it has been a challenge none more so than on the children themselves who have found it difficult not to be in school with their classmates and teachers. For many they have spent weeks away from the safety net of their classroom.

And as schools start to reopen some pupils won’t even get the opportunity to return back before they head off to their new secondary schools.

Transitioning through to secondary school is a milestone in any young students’ life but one that is all the more special this year given the uncertainty we have faced in terms of going back into the classroom.

During this time of upheaval there have been those teachers who have been day-in-day-out supporting the children of those key workers who have such vital roles.

They have been able to provide the dedicated help needed to make sure that our city’s key workers have been able to continue their roles - be they at Leeds General Infirmary, St James’ Hospital, stocking our city’s shelves with food and even collecting our bins.

Teachers really have been on the frontline of the city’s fight against coronavirus.

And we at the Yorkshire Evening Post wanted to say a special thank you to each and every teacher who has helped to inspire and make a difference to the lives of those pupils they teach.

But it wouldn’t be right just solely coming from us. We have enlisted the help of an army of school leavers from across the city to share their heartfelt messages to their teachers.

It is a small gesture but one that is richly deserved to praise the hard work of the unflinching support and dedication in our classrooms.

It’s also an opportunity to say farewell to those who have guided young minds on their primary school journey as they look to venture into the world of secondary education.

What is clear from our deluge of messages is Leeds is proud to have such inspiring teachers helping to give our city’s children the best possible start to life.

From replying to emails with updates of what to do in lockdown right through to shaping our children to reach for the stars with their dreams and ambitions.

Today we salute our army of teachers and teaching assistants and say thank you to each and every one of you for supporting our young pupils.

Thank You Teacher supplement

*Don't miss our 8-page YEP special supplement as children from across Leeds pay tribute to the city's teaching staff.

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