THE first day back at school proved to magical for these lucky youngsters.

For greeting children at the gates of Bowness Primary School in Little Lever were superheroes and characters who had stepped out of the pages of fairytale books to make sure they had a happy start to the school year.

Cinderella, Rapunzel and Spiderman greeted children in a delightful welcoming event arranged by the new headteacher Victoria Unsworth to create lasting memories of their primary school years and fire their imaginations.

Mrs Unsworth said: “I wanted children have a different experience on their first day, something different to the norm and celebrate the start of the new year.

“The children really enjoyed it.”

She added: “Children need to to be able to look back at their primary school years and remember the experiences they had.”

And as well as enjoying meeting the characters, the fun start also inspired the children in their learning.

Spiderman delivered a special learning box to the classrooms containing a book and character.

Children have been talking and writing about their characters as well as creating their own.

Mrs Unsworth said: “Having the characters at school hooked the children into their learning straight away, they were engaged and inspired.”

The head said she and the staff were committed to taking the school to being outstanding.

Already Mrs Unsworth is getting to know all the children through having lunch with them, where she has helped organise a range of fun educational activities — and is still standing in front of a classroom to take lessons.

She said: “This is my first headship and the children are so delightful and eager to learn — they want to aim high.

“We want the best for the children and I know it will be an outstanding school.

“I know I can with the new leadership team move the school forward.”