This is what Chad readers had to say over plans to reopen schools

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that schools would stay closed until at least March 8 as initial proposals to reopen them after the February half-term were scuppered over concerns at high infection rates.

Ashfield MP Lee Anderson said his “inbox was full” of parents calling for a return, whilst Mansfield MP Ben Bradley said his personal view was that it should be a ‘priority,’ when mortality and hospitalisation rates fell.

And now more than 200 Chad readers have been having their say on whether schools should re-open.

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On Facebook, Maria Annie Williams posted: “Leave them at home until its safer, its OK giving teachers jab but children will still pass it between each other and families, if it's still not safe to go to work and we are told stay at home how can you even think of sending children to school?”

Samie Jane Jervis said: “Yes we should, a child's education is important. I'm not a teacher and hands down to them. But teaching a child at home is hard especially when you don't have the time. Children’s and teenager’s education will be ruined because of this.

"Kids that can't get their proper GCSEs. If I can go to a supermarket or still go to work with thousands of people surrounding me why can't children go back to school with their bubbles.”

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CEO of Active Minds UK Graeme Wheatley said “100% children are suffering in so many ways from poor education, poor mental health, abuse etc and schools are so critical for early intervention.”

Tracey Newbury said: “Schools should not reopen until all the staff working in them have been vaccinated.”

Amy Singleton added: “Prioritise school and nursery staff then and give them the vaccination instead of overlooking them. However it's not safe for them to reopen, too many people still testing positive and 100,000 people have died! Life is more important, some of us have lost more than a couple of months in school. The schools are providing an education still we're just doing at home.”

Andrea Ruskin said: “I find it shocking the amount of people wanting to put education in school, above the safety of their children and others.”