Minister hopes staggered schools return will go ahead as planned in January

straight to your inbox every day for freeIt's been seven years since Manchester United led the pack in January.2013 was Sir Alex Ferguson's last season at Old Trafford and as '20 times, 20 times, Man United' rang around the famous stadium after his final home game against Swansea City, few would have predicted the turmoil that would follow.Three permanent managers have separated Ferguson and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who looks to have finally placed his former employers back on track after years of

direct to your inboxLove Island star Olivia Attwood has slammed fellow influencers for saying they're 'working' abroad while sunning themselves during the pandemic.In a rant shared with her Instagram followers Olivia said that while people back in the UK are losing their family to COVID-19 'you're on the beach telling us we don't know how hard it is.' Olivia, who was a finalist in the ITV2 dating show in 2017, took to her Instagram Stories from her home in Manchester to criticise social media

What do you think about the safety of schools? Do you think closing them was the right decision? Are you a school worker who is concerned about safety? Let us know in the comments here, or on our Manchester Family Facebook page. Answering a question about the safety of schools on BBC Radio 5 Live today, England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, said: "Are they safe for children, the answer is absolutely yes - in large part due to the fantastic work teachers have done, but the main

direct to your inboxMatt Hancock has stressed to parents that schools are for key workers' children only during the third national lockdown. It comes after rows erupted over parents 'needlessly' taking up key worker spaces in schools.

straight to your inbox every day for freeBrighton are hoping to seal the signing of Manchester United target Moises Caicedo after holding talks with the youngsters, reports claim.MEN Sport reported last month that Caicedo was a target for United as part of their new recruitment strategy.United targeted the 19-year-old to join in the January transfer window due to new work permit regulations following Brexit.The Reds have switched their focus on signing the highest-rated teenage talents from

What do you think about the Education Secretary telling parents to report schools? What's been your experience of remote learning? Are you a teacher who's angered by the government's response? Let us know in the comments here, or share your views on our Manchester Family Facebook page. Lee, whose Facebook page ICT with Mr P, on which he shares light-hearted posts about school life, has become a massive hit with teachers and parents, added: "If anything, the whole pandemic has shown how Ofsted

Olivia Attwood has given a tour of her glamorous bathroom after fans kept asking her questions about her wooden bath. The Love Island star was hosting a fan Q&A on her Instagram stories and noticed that the same question kept popping up again and again.

Just before Boris Johnson announced the new national lockdown on Monday, Olivia Attwood managed to squeeze in a spot of retail therapy before having to be stuck indoors.The reality star, who looked uncrecognisable without lip fillers in a throwback snap, was spotted in Manchester city centre on Saturday afternoon.The 29 year old wore a grey tracksuit hoodie and pants for the outing and wore a protective face mask on her chin as she engaged in a phone call.

direct to your inboxThe number of Covid-19 cases rose across most of Manchester in the week before the government announced the latest national lockdown.New virus hotspots have emerged in all parts of the city while infection rates have continued to increase all over Greater Manchester.In Manchester the rate of Covid-19 infections has risen by almost 50 pc to 302.6 cases per 100,000 people in the week to Monday January 4.Up to 25 per cent of all new cases in the city-region can be linked to the

direct to your inboxParents have been left angry and frustrated after Boris Johnson insisted that primary schools were safe despite ongoing pressure to keep them closed.Primaries are due to reopen in Tier 4 areas except London tomorrow despite growing concerns about a new variant of coronavirus.Unions, teachers and scientists have urged the government to delay the reopening to curb mounting transmission rates.

direct to your inboxParents and children have been left in limbo ahead of the imminent reopening of primary schools and the risk posed by the new strain of COVID-19.It's understood that primaries in Greater Manchester will open as planned on Monday - despite action being taken to keep kids at home in other Tier 4 areas.It comes as the National Education Union (NEU), the UK's largest teaching union, told its members that it is unsafe for them to go back to work on Monday.The NEU is one of several

direct to your inboxPrimary schools in London will remain closed following a government U-turn.It comes after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced 50 education authorities in the south of England would be closed to primary school pupils for the first two weeks of term.The list failed to encompass several school areas in London, where Covid-19 rates remain alarmingly high as the new strain continues to spread across the country.Latest scientific advice warns that the new strain variant

straight to your inbox every day for freeManchester United fans have hijacked Amad Diallo's Instagram posts with messages of excitement ahead of the youngster's impending transfer to Old Trafford.United confirmed the capture of the highly regarded Atalanta teenager during the summer transfer window with a fee rising to €41million for the youngster.

direct to your inboxSome schools could remain shut until mid-February as the new variant of the coronavirus continues to surge across the country.While primary schools in Greater Manchester are due to return on Monday, about a million pupils in primary schools in the south are not due to return until January 18.But fears are being raised that their scheduled return could actually be pushed back by another month, as cases continue to rise especially in London and the South East.Education

direct to your inboxWhen the new term starts next week for primary schools, headteacher Ruth Vayro knows some parents will keep their children at home."Our families do trust us at St Ambrose to keep children safe but I'm sure some parents will take the decision not to return their children to school because they just don't know."Parents will be concerned just as they are in London and Greater London."I completely empathise with parents - I'm a parent.

straight to your inbox every day for freeManchester United could find themselves ahead of Premier League champions Liverpool by the time they head to Anfield on January 17.That was unthinkable just a month ago, with United sitting fifth in the Premier League table and still relying on late comebacks to secure wins. A ninth away win in a row was secured with a 3-1 victory at West Ham at the beginning of December in yet another game that United trailed at the break.