Students head back to classrooms this week

Students across our area will be returning to classrooms today for the first time since March.

In an open letter to parents Education Secretary Gavin Williamson warned of the negative impacts if children are kept from returning to school.

He wrote: "If a child is not in school, they stand to lose far more than just a few months of learning. It could well put a huge dent in their future life chances," Mr Williamson said in his letter to parents.

"Education is a birthright, so let's make sure we get all children back - back to learning, back to playing and back to being kids again."

The Department for Education has announced new guidance ahead of the start of the new academic year.

A rota system could be brought in at secondary schools if there is a local lockdown.

Karen Wright is Head of Public Health in Herefordshire: