SCHOOLS will not reopen after the February half term, the Prime Minister has announced. 

Boris Johnson told MPs it will not be possible to reopen schools 'immediately after the February half term'.

He added he hoped it would be safe to begin the reopening of England’s schools from March 8.

Mr Johnson told the Commons: “The first sign of normality beginning to return should be pupils going back to their classrooms. I know how parents and teachers need as much certainty as possible including two weeks’ notice of the return of face-to-face teaching.

“So I must inform the House that for the reasons I have outlined it will not be possible to reopen schools immediately after the February half-term. But I know how frustrating that will be for pupils and teachers who want nothing more than to get back to the classroom.

“And for parents and for carers who spent so many months juggling their day jobs, not only with home schooling but meeting the myriad other demands of their children from breakfast until bedtime.”

The Prime Minister said he intends to set out a plan on how the nation can ease its lockdown restrictions in the week beginning of February 22. 

Primary and secondary schools in England have been closed for all pupils, apart from the children of key workers and those who are vulnerable, during the country's third Covid-lockdown.

The Prime Minister suggested when he announced the lockdown in January that there was a possibility schools could reopen in February. 

Mr Johnson also said that reopening schools would is a priority. 

Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, in an interview with Sky News last week, refused to guarantee that schools would reopen before Easter.

Labour Leader, Sir Keir Starmer, said that vaccinating teachers should be a 'national priority'.