I desperately want kids back in school both from a policy perspective and as a parent. But you can't commit to a date while numbers are still this high and there's so much uncertainty.

What the Government should do is set benchmarks - case numbers; hospital beds; numbers vaccinated - which once they're hit schools can go back. Clarity on what we're aiming for would help here.

Without benchmarks the clamour to reopen things will get louder as numbers drop (if only from Tory MPs and sections of the press). With benchmarks the focus switches to how close we are to hitting them and helps the sense of a final push to the finish.

Yet again seeing the papers demanding vaccinations for teachers to get schools back. This. Isn't. The. Issue. What matters is children mixing sending cases numbers rising again while they're still high. That's what we're trying to avoid.

To everyone saying we should vaccinate teachers anyway.... https://twitter.com/Samfr/status/1353470356896559106?s=19

If there is a way for the NHS to actually identify people who work in schools (not clear) it could be done in two days at the current rates. It wouldn't take long. It's just not the issue with school reopening.