Children return to primary schools in England

Some schools in England have partly reopened to selected year groups as lockdown measures eased further on Monday.

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 were returning after some 10 weeks of absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However a survey from the National Foundation for Educational Research suggested that 46% of parents were choosing to keep children at home.

The study was based on 1,200 primary school leaders.

As part of lockdown easing measures in England up to six people can now meet outdoors and competitive sports can restart without an audience.

Outdoor markets are also allowed to reopen and around 2.2 million vulnerable people who had been shielding indoors more strictly can now spend some time outside as well.