It was a supercalifragilistic surprise for pupils and parents at a school yesterday as it was transformed into a Mary Poppins wonderland for the day.

As part of an annual surprise, teachers and staff at the Parkside Primary School in Chingford created the world of Mary Poppins at the school to inspire the children to read, write and learn.

The teachers and staff at the school stayed late on Wednesday, April 3, to decorate the school in preparation for the day, including kites and umbrellas suspended in the air.

Other decorations include a large St. Paul’s Cathedral dome built in the playground, and the addition of a huge carousel funded by through fundraising efforts.

Yesterday morning (April 4), parents, carers and the 601 pupils arrived to find school staff dressed in costume.

Staff at the Wellington Avenue school handed out letters informing them: "Mary Poppins, Bert, Jane and Michael Banks have jumped into a chalk picture and landed at Parkside. Unfortunately, the rain has washed the picture away so the children have to do fabulous writing for them to be able to go home."

Parkside Primary School’s headteacher Lisa Cousins said: "Each year we theme a writing day, with the objective of bringing joy and creativity into the curriculum and inspiring a life-long love of writing in the children.

"In addition, the annual event really brings the school community together.

"I can’t thank the teachers and staff enough for all of their magnificent efforts in making this day possible.

"Today is definitely a spoonful of sugar to help the learning go in."