Schoolboy pens emotional stay at home message to halt Covid-19 spreading

Like children across the resort young Alfie Greenhalgh... a year six pupil at Blackpool's Gateway Academy has been thinking about the coronavirus pandemic crisis and said: " I wrote this because I felt not many people were listening to the advice about the virus so I was hoping they might listen to advice in a different way."

His class teacher Pippa Hardy said: " I was super impressed when one of my Year 6 students sent me his poem that he had written.

"The poem is called Stay At Home and it encompasses beautifully the feelings of the country as a whole, whilst giving everyone a humorous reminder of the importance of staying at home. In a time of uncertainty and worry, Alfie shows he understands why we must follow the rules and the impact this will have on many, many people.

"We are reminded in the poem, that whilst children may have craved for schools to be closed they are now wanting to return to be with their friends, who they are missing a lot.

"Here at Gateway Academy, we are so proud of Alfie who has touched all of our hearts.

"He has made us all realise that we miss all of our pupils more than we imagined and the work we do with them is incredibly important and worthwhile."

Proud mum Amy Sager said: "I am very proud of Alfie. It brought tears to my eyes when I read it.

"The fact that my 11 year old boy could understand the meaning behind staying at home was fantastic.

"Alfie wanted to share his poem to persuade other people to listen."

Stay at Home by Alfie Greenhalgh

Stay at home with your families, it's essential

Going out could be detrimental

Everyone needs to stay safe and at home

Don't go out unless you must - don’t roam

The virus has closed shops, businesses and schools

We’re on lockdown because people didn’t listen to the rules

We all wished for schools to be closed

So we could play our games in our own clothes!

But now we need to have our homeschooling

If we don’t, it's our brains that are losing

We need to stay in and away

So we can save lives and get back to normal one day

Facetime is our communication

We need to come together as a nation

To help the vulnerable, the sick and needy

If we listen to the rules then it’ll be speedy

Can’t wait to get back to class with Mrs Hardy

And see all my friends in class 6B!