In this week's column on Biddulph Nub News, Moorlands MP Karen Bradley says she knows how frustrating the delayed reopening of schools is for students and parents.

Many of you have contacted me with your concerns about the Prime Minister's announcement regarding schools not opening straight after half-term.

With two children myself at home, I know how frustrating the announcement is for pupils and teachers who just want to get back into the classroom and for parents and carers who have spent so many months trying to divide their time between their jobs and looking after and home schooling children.

I am also very aware of the worries about the mental health of our children who have been stuck at home for such a very long time.

The Prime Minister has committed to a review of the lockdown measures the week commencing 22nd February where he intends to set out the results of the review of lockdown and publish a plan for taking the country out of the current restrictions.

That plan will, of course, depend on various factors such as vaccination targets, the decrease in infections, hospitalisation and mortality rates and it is hoped that it will be safe to commence the reopening of schools from Monday 8 March.

Here in the Moorlands and across Staffordshire our local vaccination rollout team are doing a fantastic job and every day I hear of more and more people who have received their vaccines.

Thank you to all the staff and volunteers at our local vaccine hubs – I hear such positive feedback from people who have attended who have been shielding for many months and who have been really impressed with the level of safety, efficiency and kindness that has been shown to them.

Finally a reminder that here in the Moorlands we have community testing hubs in Biddulph and Leek for people with no symptoms.

If you have to go out for work purposes, please do book a test.

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