The Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, is expected to confirm next week that children will not return to classes after the February half-term. In a statement a Number 10 source told The Times: “We are in this for the long haul. We are going to start giving parents more information so they can start managing their expectations.
“Although we have not arrived at an exact date when we think schools will go back, it will not be after half-term.”
Educational leaders believe it is highly unlikely that schools will reopen before mid-April.
Kevin Courtney, co-general secretary of the National Education Union, said any reopening before Easter seemed “optimistic”, adding: “It could be as late as May.”
It is understood that when schools reopen, it will be on a staggered basis.
Those students studying for their GCSEs and A-levels will be allowed to return first.
The government also plans to double the number of children who will be able to receive catch-up tuition.
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In December he contracted Covid, before dying from the disease two days after Christmas.
It is not known how he became infected.
His daughter Camille told Sky News: “If they’re going to send them into schools, you know, they need to be vaccinated.
“I personally think they shouldn’t be back until they’ve been vaccinated.”
