Nicola Adam Associate Editor

Good evening, 

It’s the phrase that sees a haunted look play across every parent’s eyes - home schooling - and this time it’s less about the spread of the virus and more about the sheer numbers of teachers who are sick and isolating.
As many other workplaces face up to a quarter of staff being absent nationally, the education secretary has said he wants to keep children in school where possible - for their mental health.
Nadhim Zahawi told head teachers to consider merging classes or sending groups of children home if the number of staff off work due to Covid reaches critical levels.
But he said it was key to keep children in the classroom as much as possible and to keep schools open due to the mental health impacts.
“The priority is to keep schools open,” he told Sky News, following the announcement that masks would be recommended in the classroom for secondary school pupils, as well as twice-weekly testing.
"I think, after the experience of the past few years, most parents would agree - it’s not just the children’s mental health at stake here."
But what about the teachers?

Thanks for reading, 

Nicola 

nicola.adam@jpimedia.co.uk