Parents pain as twins join Madeleine school

Yesterday at Sky News: Kate and Gerry will today watch their twins start at the primary school where missing Madeleine should already be a pupil. Madeleine had already been accepted at the school and was meant to start lessons four months after she disappeared while on holiday. It will be a proud moment for her parents when they drop off twins Sean and Amelie for their first day in primary class in Thurmaston, Leics. But the occasion will be tinged with overwhelming sadness for the couple. Staff at Bishop Ellis Roman Catholic Primary kept an empty desk and locker for Madeleine, and they still keep a candle burning in the hope she will one day return. A message on the school´s website says: "We are sorry that we are not yet able to welcome Madeleine to our school as we had hoped to. Our thoughts and prayers remain very much with the McCanns as we continue to pray with them for Madeleine." Above it is an aerial photo of pupils standing in formation in the playground, spelling out the words "Find Madeleine". An internet banner shows a picture of the missing girl as she was aged three, when she disappeared, and an "age-progressed" image of how she would look now. The twins will be driven the five miles to school from their family home in Rothley. An Ofsted report carried out in May this year described the school as "outstanding" and said the pupils were "admirably well behaved".

My heart goes out to Kate and Gerry this week more than ever.........So poignant taking the twins for the first day at Big School......an event they should have carried out with Madeleine.......How very sad ..........

I couldn't agree more. Kate, Gerry, you have, as ever, my total support.

I cannot even begin to imagine what emotions they must have gone through today, it is just so terribly sad.

I can only say, as always, they have my utmost support.

I shed a tear (well quite a few actually) when I read about the twins starting school. It is a huge reminder of what Madeleine and Kate and Gerry have missed out on.

My heart goes out to Kate and Gerry, as they must feel the same sadness but ten/hundred/thousand times worse than I do.

I pray that Madeleine will finish out the year at her school, making new friends and being with her family where she belongs.

Kate, Gerry, Sean and Amelie have so much love from so many people in the world. How tragic that there are a few who prefer to continue to administer so much more pain than they are already suffering. It must have been so hard for them to take the twins into school for their first day, but I am sure that Madeleine will walk into her school one day soon and then they can start the healing process and be a complete family again.

How many days a week will the twins go to school? And how many hours a day?

What an adjustment for poor Kate. She has spent nearly every moment with the twins since they returned to Rothley and now they will be gone for part of the day (at least). I hope one day when she feels right she returns to general practice. I'm sure she was a great doc and she should get to continue that career one day.

What a sad day for them, Its never easy when your 'babies' start school, it marks a turning point in most parents lives.
It must have been a very painful day for them.
So sad.