Flakefleet Primary School Mr Dave McPartlin helps teach the nation for BBC Bitesize programme with professor Brian Cox and Sir David Attenborough

Teaming up for the BBC's new virtual Bitesize home schooling programme, Mr McPartlin added some extra duties to his timetable in the Easter holidays, pre-recording lessonswhich will be available from 9am each day on BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button.

Mr McPartlin, who with the school's ensemble choir reached the finals of Britain's Got Talent in 2019, was invited to Media City in Salford for the sessions.

He is currently continuing in his daily commitments running the school in Northfleet Avenue, Fleetwood which has remained open through the lockdown.

Headteacher and father-of-two Mr McPartlin said: "This was incredibly flattering to be asked to take part and to have the chance to go and work with such a talented and committed team of teachers, consultants and education specialists.

"What has been put together in such a short space of time is just extraordinary and I was thrilled to do my bit - in a role that I love.

"I love my job and to be able to do it to serve other families and children through this strange time. The great thing is this package covers such a spectrum of subjects with history, geography, PE health and wellbeing as well as the core areas.

"They're all digestible and short bursts perfect for five years to post 16 - it's unbelievable the scale of it and I'm proud to have been invited to be a small part of it."

Mr McPartlin will feature Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the schedule this week and will deliver a reading session as well as bitesize history and geography classes.

This week the staff returned to school where they are supporting between 10 and 20 pupils. He added his the teachers alongside their planning had taken time to deliver greetings cards and small packages to all their new school starters, who will be due to start in September. The Year 6 team have also presented a leavers package for the final year pupils, for who the last term is a special one.

He added: "The team have been fantastic as well as our Zoom meetings and plannings we've come up with different ways to keep in touch particularly the kids, this time is usually a special one for the school leavers so we wanted them to know we're thinking of them with something a bit different."

The corporation's home learning project which launched today, offers a 14 week home curriculum package and has been inspired by 200 talented teachers and put together in just four weeks.

This week marks the start of the 2020 summer term but with a majority of schoolchildren forced to remain at home due to the Covid 19 pandemic, education for the majority is taking place at home.

The likes of Professor Brian Cox and Sir David Attenborough have offered their expertise to help bring lessons to life covering topics including the solar system, force and gravity learn about the oceans, mapping the world and why animals look the way they do.

Manchester City’s star striker Sergio Aguero, turns his attention to numbers helping children to count in Spanish, while Eastenders actor Danny Dyer, presents history lessons and Jodie Whittaker turns from Doctor to teacher for the six daily programmes, all 20 minutes long.

A host of musical stars will also come together as part of a Musical Big Read including Liam Payne and Mabel.

Alice Webb, Director BBC Children’s & Education said: “We’re proud that the BBC can bring together so many people to offer such a wide-ranging package of support to help children and parents right across the UK at such a challenging time.

“We said the BBC would be there for people through this crisis, and we meant it. It’s vital that every child is able to continue learning – and the lessons we’re putting on will make sure they have fun at the same time.”

BBC Bitesize Daily will deliver a tailored day of learning across BBC iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Bitesize website and app, BBC Four and BBC Sounds, with curriculum relevant offers across the UK. Together, this comprehensive package is aimed at minimising disruption to children’s education and providing rhythm and routine in these challenging times