BORIS Johnson hopes it will be safe to begin the reopening of England’s schools from March 8.

Speaking in the House of Commons this afternoon, Wednesday, the Prime Minister told MPs that while it will not be possible to reopen schools ‘immediately after the February half term’, getting pupils back into classrooms will be the main priority.

The Government has also promised to prolong free school meal arrangements.

Mr Johnson told the Commons: “The first sign of normality beginning to return should be pupils going back to their classrooms.

“I know how parents and teachers need as much certainty as possible including two weeks’ notice of the return of face-to-face teaching.

“So I must inform the House that for the reasons I have outlined it will not be possible to reopen schools immediately after the February half-term.

 “If we achieve our target of vaccinating everyone in the four most vulnerable groups with their first dose by February 15, and every passing day sees more progress towards that goal, then those groups will have developed immunity from the virus about three-weeks later, that is by March 8.

“We hope it will therefore be safe to begin the reopening of schools from Monday, March 8, with other economic and social restrictions being removed thereafter as and when the data permits.”

Mr Johnson added that the Government would set out plans in the week beginning February 22 for the ‘gradual and phased’ route out of lockdown.

Addressing MPs during his statement, Mr Johnson also announced that UK nationals and residents returning from ‘red list’ countries will be placed in quarantine in Government-provided accommodation such as hotels for 10 days.

He said: “I want to make clear that under the stay-at-home regulations, it is illegal to leave home to travel abroad for leisure purposes and we will enforce this at ports and airports by asking people why they are leaving and instructing them to return home if they do not have a valid reason to travel.

“We have also banned all travel from 22 countries where there is a risk of known variants including South Africa, Portugal and South American nations.

“And in order to reduce the risk posed by UK nationals and residents returning home from these countries, I can announce that we will require all such arrivals who cannot be refused entry to isolate in Government provided accommodation, such as hotels, for 10 days without exception.

“They will be met at the airport and transported directly into quarantine.

“The Department of Health and Social Care is working to establish these facilities as quickly as possible.”