URGENT meetings were being held between health leaders and the Government today over keeping schools shut in north Essex to drive down Covid cases.

Primary schools in Colchester and Tendring had been due to re-open today and tomorrow.

But in an 11th hour decision Essex County Council advised schools to remain shut while it sought urgent clarity on opening.

Schools in north Essex and Uttlesford were the only primary schools in Essex due to re-open, with the rest of the county’s primary schools remaining closed until Monday January 18.

Under Department for Education rules, schools can be included in a “contingency framework” which means they will operate on a remote learning basis if there are high levels of infection locally and pressure on local health services.

But despite increasing infection rates across Colchester and Tendring, no decision to delay the return to classrooms was made.

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Parents responding to a Gazette poll said they wanted schools to stay shut for the next two weeks while Boris Johnson warned of “tough, tough” weeks to come as the Government came under pressure to announce another national lockdown.

The Prime Minister said there was “no question” about the need for tougher measures which would be announced “in due course”.

Essex County Council leader David Finch wrote to the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson on Sunday asking for an urgent review of schools opening.

Gazette:

Mr Finch said cases in Tendring had increased by 28 per cent and in Colchester by 23 per cent.

Colchester MP Will Quince said he has spoken to both the council and Mr Williamson to share his views and those of parents and teachers who had contacted him.

He added: “I appreciate this will be welcome news for some and disappointing news for others, especially those who now have to make alternative childcare plans and arrangements at short notice.”

In the Gazette poll, 78 per cent of 776 people who responded said schools should stay shut.

Mum-of-two Anna Stacey, from St Osyth, said: “We want a decision from Essex County Council whether it’s two days or two weeks off school, so we can plan and inform our children what’s happening.

“My daughter’s response this morning was ‘It’s Groundhog Day’.”

The 39-year-old added: “Thank goodness Essex County Council did a U-turn to protect the county.”

Laura Louise Oliver said: “As much as its nightmare having my kids at home and having to be their teacher, I would do anything to get us back to normal life again.”

Chris Payne said: “I was given 15 hours notice that my daughters SEN school would be shut today.

“How is that fair to families who work or who, like myself, have SEN children who need time to process any change.

“To be clear it’s not the school’s fault, it’s the constant U-turns and changing of minds by this slow to react Government.”