Boris Johnson to RULE OUT February school return in massive blow to exhausted parents

BORIS JOHNSON's government has ruled out reopening schools next month, as the Covid pandemic continues to wreak havoc, sources claim.

Nicola Sturgeon addresses wastage of coronavirus vaccines

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.”

Schools

Boris Johsnon has had to postpone the reopening of schools (Image: Getty)

Schools

Gavin Williamson will announce the decision to keep schools closed next week (Image: Getty)

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.

READ MORE: Brits 70 percent more motivated to change post-Covid lifestyle

Schools

Schools could stay closed until May (Image: Getty)

The plan is to increase the number from 250,000 this year to 450,000 next year.

Meanwhile the family of a teacher who tragically died from Covid has called on the government to ensure that teachers are vaccinated "as a priority" before schools reopen.

Paul Hidditch, 55, taught engineering at Conyers School on Teeside.

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Schools

Children will have to learn from home for the foreseeable future (Image: Getty)

Schools

There are growing calls for teachers to be vaccinated before schools reopen (Image: Getty)

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."

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