The parenting lessons 2020 has taught Manchester families

Manchester Family Facebook page with plenty of cracking suggestions. They included everything from tying shoelaces, fastening their own buttons and learning to tell the time, to teaching basic manners and kindness."My daughter was so chuffed yesterday she can now zip up her own coat and put on and take off her own tops," said mum Reanne Murray.

Sign up to the M.E.N.'s Manchester Family newsletter for all the latest from school closures to ways to entertain the kidsParents are being reminded not to miss the deadline for primary school applications for children starting this September.Families across Greater MAnchester have until tomorrow, Friday, January 15, to submit their application to their local authority.If parents fail to apply, their child could miss out on a school place and with families dealing with so many issues and home

What do you think about the plans for parents to test primary children at home? Have you been asked permission for your child to have the test at secondary school? Let us know in the comments here, or share your views on our Manchester Family Facebook page. The plan at secondaries and colleges is for all pupils and staff to be tested before returning to school from lockdown - and then tested on a weekly basis.Once they are back in, if they are found to be a close contact of a positive case then

direct to your inboxA flood 'alert' has been put in force in Greater Manchester today after hours of heavy rainfall overnight.The alert warns of 'possible' flooding around the area of the middle River Mersey catchment area.It includes areas near Bramhall in Stockport, Sale, Altrincham and Urmston.The Environment Agency warned: "Flooding is possible - be prepared."And Transport for Greater Manchester said: "With heavy rain in Greater Manchester this morning, expect flooding in some areas.

the Manchester Evening News has reported on cases of pupils who have been refused places because schools do not have the space for them.Mr Wilkinson believes that this has been driven by the nature of the lockdown announcement and the changing circumstances of Greater Manchester's businesses."I think it put us all on the hop because it was so sudden but also more businesses are open now than there during the first lockdown," he said."We're also finding in lots of cases that employers don't are

Manchester Evening Newsreported yesterday how some key workers said they'd been refused places for their children, despite working in schools and for the NHS. Under the rules set out by the government, only one parent needs to be a critical worker for a child to qualify for a place.

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

To book a test at the new clinic, visit the website here. No walk-in appointments are accepted. There are three different types of COVID-19 tests you can undergo at The Corona Test Centre, priced from £95..The tests results determine if you currently have the virus, or have had it in the past and developed antibodies.There is also testing available if you are about to travel outside the UK and need to a Fit to Fly certificate.Certificates, validation and results for all tests are sent to you

Prime Minister announced last night that all schools and colleges will close to the vast majority of pupils from today as learning goes online due to England's new national lockdown.

direct to your inboxIn a matter of hours, schools will be reopening their doors to begin the spring term, but thousands of teachers, support staff and parents don't know whether they should be returning or not.Earlier this week, the education secretary Gavin Williamson backtracked on earlier decisions and said secondary schools will have an extra week's holiday before a staggered return.Some primary schools in London were told not to reopen but then Mr Williamson performed another U-turn after

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.

straight to your inboxManchester City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes appears to be a doubt for Sunday's match against Chelsea and the Manchester Derby on Wednesday.Pep Guardiola 's men face Manchester United at Old Trafford during the week in a Carabao Cup semi-final clash, and they could be without their number one. Ederson has said he is self-isolating, putting him at risk of missing the clash with Manchester United in just four days' time.

direct to your inboxThe streets were empty as Greater Manchester said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in a new year - but many were determined to keep alive at least one tradition.Our video from Werneth Low shows how many parts of Greater Manchester were ablaze with colour as people set off fireworks at midnight to celebrate the arrival of 2021.Around 200 socially distanced people gathered on the popular spot to watch the moment our region said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in the New Year.Car horns

direct to your inboxIt has been a year like no other.However Great Mancunians have still made headlines across the world, for all sorts of reasons.Here we look at those who have put the region on the map in 2020, a year we will never forget.2020 has undoubtedly belonged to Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford.However it is his incredible work off the pitch which has made the headlines, even more than his impressive goal-scoring feats on it.The Withington-born and Wythenshawe raised

direct to your inbox"It's absolutely gut-wrenching."Hair salon owner Jane Nixon describes how she felt as Matt Hancock announced that Greater Manchester would be moving into Tier 4.And it's a feeling thousands of business owners across the region will be familiar with.A change in restrictions, businesses finally being allowed to open then being forced to shut again just a few weeks later.

direct to your inboxDoctors and paramedics say they are bracing themselves for a new tide of Covid patients to hit Greater Manchester's hospitals within weeks. Speaking as plans for the region's move to Tier 4 were announced and the return to school for secondary pupils was delayed, Dr Carole Gavin, a consultant in Greater Manchester, said concerns were growing as hospitals in the south battle to find beds as infection rates - largely found to be caused by the new mutant strain - rise.

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described the move as disingenuous, dangerous and difficult.It was a real low point of the year for those in the industry, and set the tone for a year of restrictions and measures that would disproportionately impact the sector.Four days later, on March 20, hospitality venues were officially ordered to close and chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled the furlough scheme that millions have relied upon this year.It was another three days before the UK was officially placed into full lockdown, with Brits

straight to your inbox every day for freePaul Scholes says Manchester United's position in the table shows they have the ability to be title challengers this season.Their recent form has prompted plenty of talk about whether United can launch a challenge that was unexpected at the start of the season. Some of United's players have been bullish about their chances and Scholes can see why.

Ariana Grande has brought some Christmas cheer to hundreds of young hospital patients in Manchester.The pop star has surprised hundreds of children at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) with an Amazon voucher each worth £100.Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, the father of one of the patents said his daughter was “absolutely delighted” with the kind gesture, describing the ‘7 Rings’ singer as “a wonderful human being”.“She said, ‘look dad, I’ve got a