Millions of children in England are going back to school after more than two months of learning at home during the country’s third national lockdown.
The move marks the first step of Boris Johnson’s “roadmap” out of lockdown, which he unveiled last month.
Most primary schools are expected to open for all pupils on Monday but secondary schools will have a phased return to give students enough time to take their Covid-19 tests.
The Department for Education is also advising secondary school students to wear face coverings wherever social distancing cannot be maintained, including in the classroom.
Although some scientists have raised concerns the increased levels of interaction could push the reproduction number – the R value – above 1, Mr Johnson said that more damage was being done to children by keeping them at home.
He also said he believed pupils, parents and teachers were “ready” to go back, with more than 20,000 schools set to open their gates.
Parents and guardians have taken to social media to express their mixed opinions over the return with one parent saying she felt “anxious,” while another said “it was about time.”
“Just thinking of all those excited children (and relieved parents) going back to school tomorrow - some of whom will have so outgrown their uniforms in the last year - but wishing them all the best of days,” one user said.
One mother wrote: “Concern about the impacts on prevalence aside, I am very relieved the children are going back to school full-time next week.
“But I cannot imagine summoning the energy to catch up with my enormous backlog of work.”
Using the hashtag #Schoolsreopening, one parent said it was important to remember that not all children “are looking forward to going back to school today.”
She added: “Not all parents are relieved. School brings another type of stress and after such a long break, going straight back into school is daunting.”
