POLICE officers in York have gone back to school this week.

The Safer Neighbourhood Team for the Westfield area is spending all week based at Westfield Primary Community School ahead of plans to move there permanently in the near future.

The team is at the school all week as part of an initiative to work with pupils and staff, and is taking part in all the lessons as well as spending time in the playgrounds at lunchtime and playtime, talking and playing with the children.

They are also taking part in assemblies.

The mobile police station is at the front of the school at the beginning and end of each school day so parents also get the chance to meet their local officers and there was a drop-in session for parents yesterday afternoon where they discussed local issues with the police team.

Sgt Sarah Bestington, who heads up the area's Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: "This is an ideal opportunity for my team to introduce themselves to pupils, staff and parents prior to our permanent posting within the school.

"All the pupils and staff have made us feel very welcome and we are looking forward to a full week of lessons and activities."

Mark Barnett, head teacher at Westfield, said: "It has been a great week so far. The children and staff have really responded well to the police team being based in school for the week.

"There have been many opportunities for the children to extend their writing, numeracy and art skills. There is no substitute for first-hand experience. There is a real buzz in the school - as well as the odd siren!"

The Press reported last year how local policing teams are to be based in York schools as part of plans for a £27 million redevelopment of the North Yorkshire force's buildings.

Westfield Primary School will be the first to get bobbies in its classroom when it acts as a pilot scheme for the rest of the county later this year.

The officers will "clock on" and off at their base in a school classroom, rather than making the trip to Fulford Road police station, giving them more time in the community.

North Yorkshire Police plans to replace and refurbish its existing buildings and base about 50 teams of officers in community facilities such as libraries and health centres.