My First School Friends 2021: Reception class photos from 28 schools in Stortford, Sawbridgeworth and Stansted area

Nothing says joy, hope and promise more than a photo of your beaming (hopefully!) child with their very first school friends.

For five weeks in September and October, Indie photographer Vikki Lince visited 28 schools in the Bishop's Stortford, Sawbridgeworth and Stansted area to take pictures of their reception classes.

She visited all 12 primary schools in Stortford – including the new Avanti Meadows, which opened in September – two each in Sawbridgeworth and Stansted plus 12 village schools in Albury, Clavering, Debden, Elsenham, Farnham, Hatfield Heath, Little Hadham, Little Hallingbury, Manuden, Much Hadham, Sheering and Spellbrook.