Pupils at a school on Portland have been getting into the Easter spirit by taking part in an annual school tradition from home.

Atlantic Academy Portland usually have an Easter Bonnet Parade every year, where students design and create their own bonnets to wear.

The event has become a tradition at the school and normally takes place in the school fields. However with the country battling coronavirus and schools closed for children, bar those of key workers or classed as vulnerable, Principal Melissa Heppell came up with a digital solution.

Pictures of students wearing their bonnets have been pulled together to create a video which will be posted on the school’s Twitter and Facebook this weekend and will also be available on Google Classroom and See Saw (a digital platform).

The students will scroll past in the video showing off their bonnets alongside their friends and classmates.

Miss Heppell said the aim of the project was to ensure that even though the pupils are away from their friends, teachers and school, they still feel they are part of a community.

The Easter bonnets were made from anything the children had available at home and teachers at the school and parents also joined in with the fun as did parents.

Miss Heppell said: "Since it's opening in 2017, Atlantic Academy Primary has always hosted an Easter Bonnet Parade. It’s an opportunity for the local pre-schools and our school community to come together to celebrate Easter and the event is always popular.

"This year however, we are at home helping to support the NHS and social distancing.

"However this wasn't to stop us and we were very keen to ensure the opportunity for an Easter Bonnet Parade was still available to our students and community. With this in mind, we decided to host our first ever Virtual Parade.

"We have been incredibly impressed with the commitment from our families and look forward to sharing the virtual display with the Portland Community."

The Easter Bonnet Parade would usually be held in the school fields with parents, grandparents and members of the local community invited to watch. The Atlantic Academy PTA would support the event by providing teas, coffee and cake to visitors.