Robert Halfon, chairman of the Commons Education Committee, is presenting a bill to MPs today arguing that schools must remain open during any public health or national emergencies as they are "essential infrastructure". Mr Halfon said: "Whilst national lockdowns were important to protect the health of the public, school closures have been nothing short of a disaster for our children". By Hannah Richardson, BBC News.

Olivera Raraty, headmistress of Malvern St James Girls’ School, writes for Independent Education Today on the psychological impact of lockdown on children returning to school. Ms Raraty said: "Did any of us ever think we would be forced to live in bubbles like people in a Huxley dystopia? What a relief that bubbles – a babyish-sounding word for a significant social restriction – have now ended."

Official statistics suggest that the rollout of COVID vaccines to under-16s slowed over half-term. Last week an average of 17,863 12 to 15-year-olds a day were given the jab, compared to the previous week where the figure was 20,688 a day. By Hugo Gye, iNews.

According to official figures, an estimated 248,000 pupils were off school due to COVID in week before half-term. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, said "these figures show just how bad things got at the end of last term". By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said warned that the increase in pupil and teacher absences due to COVID is "wreaking havoc in many schools". By Matilda Martin, Tes

Following Nadhim Zahawi's call for a longer school day, Tes takes a global look at the implications of an extended timetable. By Dan Worth.

According to a report by the National Literacy Trust and Penguin Random House UK, four out of 10 primary schools have no dedicated library budget. A respondent to the study said "most teachers spend their own money adding to these resources". By Alison Flood, The Guardian.

iNews features expert advice on how to speak to young people about climate change. By Tom Bawden.

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