A Lancashire headteacher has gone viral after she penned a heartfelt letter telling parents that they would “get through this together”

Sarah White, 40, was so moved by a conversation with a parent who had had a "really tough" time during lockdown she decided to write the letter to say that it was "okay".

The mum-of-two had only intended for her words to be read by parents at Coates Lane Primary school in Barnoldswick, Lancs., but it has touched hearts across the country.

She said thousands of people have written to her to tell her the letter was what many parents “needed to hear” during these testing times.

Sarah, who has been headteacher at the school for eight years, said it has been the “most challenging year” in education due to the pandemic.

But she said she’s been humbled and overwhelmed by the response from parents she’s known for years as well as total strangers.

The letter read: “Dear Parents/Carers,

“Today I write to you as a mother first. This week has been tough. Week 3 of the Lockdown and as a parent I have felt the strain this week.

“My own children have been set an immense amount of work from their school and I literally haven't been able to keep up with it.

“Between juggling my own job, my children's school work and generally surviving a pandemic, I really felt the strain this week.

“Times are tough at the moment, our mental health is taking a battering.

“The dark, cold and rainy/snowy weather hasn't helped so we need to support each other and get through this together.

"You are probably wondering where I am going with this

"Well, my main reason for writing is today well done. You are surviving a pandemic. Whatever your personal circumstances, we think you are doing a great job.

"If your child has had lots of microwave meals, stayed up too late, played too much on the xbox and not finished all their school work - that's okay.

"We know our pupils are safe, loved and cared for and that is the most important thing at the moment.

"We know that we've got high expectations here and we've set a lot of work each week.

"All we ask is that you do your best. If your best is a quick 30 minutes of reading or times tables here and there - that's okay.

"If you want to do all the work we set - that's okay too.