A GROUP of North-East schools have received widespread praise for going the extra mile during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ayresome Primary School in Middlesbrough has been pulling out the stops to help their children and families with several initiatives.

These include, receiving funding from the Teesside Philanthropic Foundation to provide essential food vouchers for families. Working with Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation to deliver food parcels to families and establishing a scheme to provide winter coats for children who need them.

The Ad Astra Academy Trust comprises seven primary schools in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees.

Chief Executive Officer, Andy Brown, said: “It has been a really challenging time for all schools and I cannot thank our staff, parents, governors and a number of outside organisations enough for everything that they have done to help ensure that our children continue to receive the best possible support during these difficult times.

“As part of our role, it is hugely important to also provide support to families and I am very proud of the wide-ranging measures which we have in place at all our schools.

“Parents and carers have been really appreciative of the help that we have given and there will be no let-up in our efforts to provide support."

West View Primary School in Hartlepool is just one of the schools to implement several measures to support children and their families.

These include, arranging daily cereal/bagels along with weekly food parcel deliveries and food vouchers to families most in need. Establishing a free clothing recycling scheme.

Providing essential household goods and personal items for families such as cleaning materials, toiletries and sanitary items and live online events for parents/carers to help promote the various support measures and maintain regular dialogue.