Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the Government hopes to "begin" reopening schools from Monday, March 8.
He told the House of Commons the effects of vaccinations will have made it harder for Covid to spread to vulnerable people by that point. He said: "We hope it will therefore be safe to begin the reopening of schools from Monday 8 March."
Mr Johnson said it would not be possible to reopen schools immediately after the February half term, which would have meant Monday February 22, despite earlier reports this is what the Government hoped to do.
Schools are currently open to some pupils, including children of key workers, but other children have to learn from home.
The Prime Minister also told MPs the Government will publish "our plan for taking the country out of lockdown" on the week commencing February 22.
Tougher new quarantine measures will only apply to the “red list” countries of most concern rather than being a blanket measure, Mr Johnson indicated.
The Prime Minister said the measures – expected to include a plan forcing arrivals from Covid-19 hotspots to quarantine in hotels – would be set out by Home Secretary Priti Patel
