Staffordshire schools and parents have been praised for their resilience throughout the pandemic, as February half-term starts this week.

Staffordshire schools have been working hard to ensure all pupils, whether in school as the children of key workers or receiving lessons from home, get the education they need.

County Councillor Jonathan Price, Cabinet Member for Education at Staffordshire County Council said: "Teachers and school staff have been working incredibly hard throughout this pandemic, and I know recent news that schools will not now open fully until at least March has been disappointing for most.

"As a father home-educating two children with the support of Staffordshire schools, I also know how difficult it has been for parents too, and I want to thank them for continuing to do the best for their children in sometimes difficult circumstances.

"Any reopening of schools to more pupils has to be done in a safe way, and with infection rates still high in Staffordshire and across the county, it is important we do everything we can to keep our children and the wider school community safe.

"There is some fantastic work going on in schools and homes across the county, and we are incredibly grateful for the work teachers, parents and the rest of the community is doing throughout the pandemic. My thanks goes out to the entire school community for their resilience and hard work throughout this pandemic."

Nationally, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hoping all primary and secondary schoolchildren in England will be able to return to classrooms as early as March 8 as long as Covid rates continue to decline.

The Prime Minister is expected to outline a plan to ease lockdown restrictions over the coming months on Monday (February 22), with the closure of schools being the first restriction to be removed.