THERE have been smiles all round this week as little ones started school for the very first time - while other pupils returned to class after the summer holidays.

Proud families have been sharing charming photos of their sons and daughters looking very smart as they headed off to school for the 2017/18 academic year.

Gemma Woodburn, of Barrow, was extremely proud, and a bit emotional, to have one son starting school for the first time and his older brother moving up to Secondary school today. Her boys, Leo, four, joined Reception class at Victoria Infant and Nursery School, while big brother Kian, 11, started Furness Academy.

Mrs Woodburn said: "They both started their first days at new schools, this morning was quite emotional. We were extremely proud to see them both in their uniforms ready to start their new journeys at new schools."

Parents who would like to share photos of their children starting school with The Mail can do so by sending them to our Facebook inbox, or via email to news.em@cnmedia.co.uk , with a few details.

See the photo gallery of pupils from early in the week

• On Friday look out for details of who has made it on the shortlist in this year's Golden Apple Awards, to be revealed in The Mail and sister papers The News & Star , The Cumberland News , Times & Star , and The Whitehaven News .