Boris Johnson has said the Government will tell teachers and parents when schools in England can reopen "as soon as we can". BBC News.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has said schools cannot reopen until there has been a significant drop in the COVID-19 death rate and the number of people hospitalised with the virus. By Jane Merrick, iNews.
Public Health England has said there is now a "strong case" for the reopening of primary schools, based on findings from a series of comprehensive studies. By Becky McCall and Chris Smyth, The Times.
According to iNews, the Government is considering implementing a staggered return to school over the spring. Children in different regions may also go back to school sooner than others, depending on the number of COVID-19 cases in an area. By Jane Merrick.
Findings from a Tes survey suggest 75 per cent of teachers are "frightened" or "worried" about the prospect of schools reopening to all pupils this term. By Dave Speck.
Mark Mortimer, headmaster of Bryanston School, writes to The Times stating: "All of us, not just those who work in education, have a responsibility to impel the Government to face up to its responsibility to come up with a proper plan to reopen schools as soon as possible." The letter is the second featured on the page.
A number of experts in child health have called on the Government to reopen schools and prioritise teachers for vaccinations, warning of a "rapid increase in mental health and safeguarding cases affecting children and parents alike". By Emma Yeomans, The Times.
The Times reports the Scottish Government is under pressure to prioritise teachers and police officers for coronavirus vaccinations after the most vulnerable have been inoculated. By Kieran Andrews.
Professor Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, has suggested schools could select additional vulnerable pupils for an early return to the classroom as part of a gradual increase in school attendance. By Sally Weale and Peter Walker, The Guardian.
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, teachers were not at significantly higher risk of death from COVID-19 than the general population. By Rachel Schraer, BBC News. The National Education Union has described the figures as "misleading", because they do not account for infection rates alongside death rates. By Dave Speck, Tes.
Lee Elliot Major writes in The Mail reflecting on the digital divide, saying: "If ever there was a time for change - to put social mobility and aspiration at the heart of the curriculum - then it is now."
An article in The Telegraph explores how pupils in different age groups have been affected by learning loss during lockdown. By Luke Mintz. The article quotes Ben Evans, headmaster at Windlesham House School.
Schools Week summarises the key findings from Ofsted's research into remote learning. By James Carr.
Sport England has announced it will provide an additional £50 million for grassroots sport to counter the effects of the pandemic on activity levels. By Dan Roan, BBC News.
The Independent reports changes to the pupil premium have left headteachers missing out on thousands of pounds to spend on their disadvantaged students. By Zoe Tidman.
Mark Russell, chief executive of the Children's Society, writes in The Times calling on the Government to do more to tackle child poverty during the pandemic.
