Stockport schools to close early for Christmas to prevent families having to isolate

Blossoms have unveiled a new, animated short film, Christmas Eve (Soul Purpose).

sparked anger and frustration among education leaders in Greater Manchester.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester leaders have confirmed that the latest version of the regional spatial framework is dead after Stockport rejected the long-delayed plans.The remaining nine boroughs will now pursue a new masterplan to try and salvage their vision for providing jobs and housing across the city-region by 2037.Several councils postponed votes on the GMSF after Stockport initially deferred their decision before opposition groups rose up to vote against it on December

Perrie Edwards gave fans a treat after showing off her Christmas decorations, and in turn also the star’s incredible home.The Little Mix star lives in Manchester with her footballer boyfriend, Liverpool ace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. While Alex is away, the star invited her friends over for some festive fun The trio uploaded the results to Perrie’s TikTok showing off her swanky pad at the same time.

A Grand Life, Heard, where some of Greater Manchester's most inspiring older residents tell their tales.

vaccination programme may well have begun, but Covid is having no less of an impact on the region's schools.While the rollout of the vaccine has given people fresh hope of a way out of the pandemic, thousands of pupils and staff are still isolating from schools across Greater Manchester.Only yesterday we reported how almost 30 pupils had tested positive at St Gabriel's RC High in Bury just last week alone and staffing levels have also been affected, with 25 staff absent - the school's highest

will take place this year. But while many fans of the markets were delighted to hear they'll return in some capacity yesterday, there have been many raised eyebrows and criticisms of the decision to go ahead.

Christmas dinners, restaurant meet-ups and annual Christmas Eve trips to the pub with old friends. But with the current restrictions imposed on Greater Manchester in the harshest tier of the government's latest covid alert system - it's hard to feel festive.

direct to your inboxTalks over the uncertain future of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) will continue, despite Stockport councillors voting against the proposals.Opposition groups argued that the long-delayed masterplan for jobs and housing favoured the needs of developers over residents, and would lead to unnecessary green belt development.Labour had hoped that by removing or scaling down schemes planned up to 2037, that it could appease Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, and the

Stockport business leaders have urged the government to spare the borough Tier 3 restrictions ahead of today’s crunch vote in Parliament.Greater Manchester is expected to come under the toughest coronavirus rules from Wednesday (December 2) as national lockdown comes to an end.It means pubs, bars and restaurants must remain closed - although they can offer takeaway and delivery options.But the region-wide approach has sparked controversy in Stockport, which has the second lowest rate in the

The latest infection rates for the week ending November 26 for Greater Manchester are:Rochdale - 283.3, down 31 per centOldham - 272.4, down 35 per centBolton - 248.0, down 27 per centBury - 236.1, down 32 per centWigan - 231.9, down 30 per centManchester - 200.1, down 30 per centTameside - 169.1, down 40 per centSalford - 167.3, down 46 per centStockport - 157.1, down 33 per centTrafford - 122.6, down 42 per centAlthough infection rates have been falling across the region for a number of days,

Five of six schemes put forward for ‘active travel’ funding in Stockport did not meet the government’s criteria, it has emerged.Greater Manchester has been allocated nearly £20m for projects that make it safer and easier to make journeys on foot or by bike.The region was awarded £3.1m in July as ministers moved to capitalise on the increase in walking and cycling during the first lockdown.But the bulk - £15.9m - is for longer term ‘tranche two projects’, with the full details of successful

tributes flooded in for the teenager on social media.His auntie Jade Ratcliffe and uncle Anthony Brotherton told the Manchester Evening News: "We absolutely adored him."He was a beautiful young boy. This has left a massive hole in our family.

forced to U-turn on plans to close early for the Christmas holidays this week. The M.E.N revealed that leaders of Focus Trust were under pressure from the government to reverse their plan to shut a week earlier than planned.

heading for tier 3 restrictions when lockdown ends next week, pupils are continuing to be sent home from primaries and secondaries across the region. We reported at the weekend how many feel schools are 'descending into chaos' and concerns are growing over Year 11s being expected to sit exams next year despite missing out on large chunks of classroom learning time.

straight to your inboxManchester City's Christmas schedule has been confirmed, as well as their upcoming Premier League games which include a Manchester derby at Old Trafford.City will face Manchester United in the first Premier League derby of the season, looking to avenge their two defeats in the league to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side last season. That game has been moved to the evening kick-off on Saturday December 12, with kick off at 5.30pm.

government announcing this morning that Manchester will be placed in Tier 3 when national lockdown ends on December 2, the mayor says the 'halfway house approach' taken to lockdown is partly to blame.Reacting to the news that the region now faces the toughest measures for at least another fortnight, he told the Manchester Evening News: "It was a personal view and maybe not everybody's view, but I think schools should have been included in the national circuit break, because actually it would

reported yesterday how leaders of Focus Trust were under pressure from the government to reverse their plan to shut a week earlier than planned.They had announced last week that all 15 of their schools - seven of which are in Greater Manchester - would close on December 11, instead of the original planned date of December 18.The decision came amid growing concerns over the number of families that could be forced to isolate over the festive period because of positive cases in the run-up to the

schools in Greater Manchester 'descending into chaos', bubbles of schoolchildren are continuing to be sent home from primaries and secondaries across the region. Staff shortages are having a huge impact - with teachers either being confirmed with the virus themselves, identified as a close contact, or having to stay home because their own children are isolating from schools.