A HAMPSHIRE civic chief has responded to the concerns of parents and teachers as of primary schools reopening tomorrow.

Leader of the county council, Keith Mans has spoken out on the growing concerns about whether to open or close schools on Monday.

He has said he has contacted the Government to voice the concerns of Hampshire parents and teachers in relation to Covid-19 measures ahead of the return to the classroom by primary school children.

Cllr Mans said: "I am aware that some parents are worried about whether to send their children back into primary schools tomorrow and I can fully understand these anxieties, with Hampshire currently in Tier 4. There is also significant media focus on rising rates of infection nationally - and for us locally in Rushmoor, as well as the wider county as a whole.

“The competing and growing concerns about whether to open or close schools are clearly evident, and the need to strike a balance between the physical and mental well-being of pupils when they do not attend school and the continued spread of the virus. We understand the Government’s exceptionally difficult decisions in this regard – which are based on wider ranges of information than these increasing rates."

Meanwhile, he has praised schools across the council by saying: "Hampshire’s early years providers and countywide family of schools are continuing to work hard to keep Hampshire’s pupils, teachers and school staff safe, by implementing appropriate measures to help prevent the spread of infections when they are in school.

“We are extremely grateful for all the work that is being undertaken, and I am aware that many staff will have worked over the Christmas period to ensure that measures remain in place and adhere to the latest national guidance.”

This morning, Boris Johnson said that coronavirus restrictions in England are ‘probably about to get tougher’ amid rising infection rates.

The Prime Minister has said parents should send primary-age children back to schools that are open this week, as he hinted at tougher coronavirus measures for England.

He said he has “no doubt” that classrooms are safe and that the risk to young people was “very, very small” amid calls from teaching unions to close all schools for the next two weeks.

Referring to the tiers system, Mr Johnson said that coronavirus restrictions in England are “probably about to get tougher” due to rising infection rates.

Appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday morning, the Prime Minister said: “Schools are safe. It is very, very important to stress that.

“I would advise all parents thinking about want to do, look at where your area is, overwhelmingly you’ll be in a part of the country where primary schools tomorrow will be open.”

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson signalled that despite vaccines “coming down the track in their tens of millions”, regional restrictions in England were likely to get tougher.

“What we are doing now is using the tiering system, which is a very tough system… and, alas, probably about to get tougher to keep things under control,” he said.