Delighted Oliver Kelly jumped up and down with excitement when his mum took him to school this morning.
The ten year old, in his blue uniform and his little rucksack on his back, gave the thumbs up when his mum asked if he was looking forward to seeing his pals at school.
Oliver has been shielding since March 17th last year and is spending half a day at school today to ease him into it.
When his mum broke the news a few days earlier, delighted Oliver signed in Makaton: “I'm excited to go back to school”.
In fact he was so keen he got dressed in his uniform, packed his bag, put his shoes on and waited in the hall - four days too early.
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Oliver and his family have spent a year shielding from “the bugs” concerned his body would not be strong enough to cope with coronavirus.
The family are so strict they get all their shopping online and parcels are left outside for a day or two.
Oliver was born with Down's Syndrome and suffers from other complicated health needs such as diabetes.
His mum Katie Kelly, 36, from Alwoodley in Leeds, said: “He got dressed up in his uniform ready to go to school and sat in the hall. But it was four days too early.
“It was Monday morning and his brother William, who is seven, was getting ready for school and Oliver thought he was going too.
“He had his coat on, shoes on and bag packed, just waiting. He hadn't even had his breakfast.
“It was a battle because he was insisting most of the morning he was going.
“He was disappointed when I explained it wasn't until Thursday and stayed in his uniform for the whole day.”
Katie says he has been waking up every morning and asking: “School?”
“It has been difficult. It's hard really. I'm still reserved about it because it's been a long time since he's been at school,” she said.
“It's nice that he is excited and he's been looking forward to going to see his friends.
“He will be excited to play with the equipment they have there too.”
But Katie says he has missed family even more than his Boston Spa school.
“The weather has been so bad, we have hardly seen them. He keeps asking if he can see his aunty and cousin and we explain we can't because of 'the bugs'
“The other day we went past the playground and had to explain again why we couldn't go in there because of the 'bugs'.”
Oliver also missed out on his 10th birthday party celebrations.
The entire family has had to make huge sacrfices to keep Oliver safe.
His dad Richard Kelly, 42, had to temporarily give up work as a painter and decorator.
He said: “We are a little bit freer and hopefully Oliver is going back to school full time after Easter if it goes well on Thursday.”
Richard has had to be “selective” about the jobs he's taken on fearing bringing the virus home.
“I've been off for three months but I'm trying to get back into it now and just be safe.
“It has been really testing, and tricky because we take our other son to school but we are a bit unsure about Oliver going.
“It's always a worry for me bringing it in or my other son bringing it in. “
Although both Katie and Richard have been vaccinated as his carers, it could be several more months before Oliver gets a jab.
