EDUCATION Select Committee chairman Robert Halfon has told the BBC he wants the Government to set out a 'route map' for getting children back into schools.

He also reiterated calls for teachers and support staff to be an 'absolute priority' for the vaccine once vulnerable people have been protected.

He told the BBC Breakfast programme: "The Government said that the intention was to open the schools again after the February half-term - over the weekend it was indicated that the schools now won't open until Easter, so that's why I'm urging clarity for parents, children, teachers and support staff as to what the Government plans are because there's enormous uncertainty.

"What I want the Government to do is set out a route map and what I mean by that is set out what the conditions need to be before children can go back to school more fully."

Asked if schools should reopen if infection rates are still high, Mr Halfon told the BBC: "Perhaps you might have a situation whereby in areas where the coronavirus is low you would have schools open in those areas, you might have a phased opening.

"But we need to be told about these plans."

Boris Johnson is 'as keen as possible' to get children back into school for face-to-face learning as soon as possible, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey has said.

She told Sky News: "I'm conscious the Education Secretary set out last week the approach that of course families and schools would be informed two weeks in advance.

"But the important (thing) is that we follow the evidence, that the infection rates get back under control, and meanwhile remote learning is continuing - but I am conscious of the pressure this brings on families at this time."

She added: "The Prime Minister is as keen as possible to try and get back to face-to-face learning as quickly as possible."

Asked if he would support the idea that restrictions could be tighter to allow schools to open, Robert Halfon said: "It may be that one thing the Government should consider is that even if there are tighter restrictions in other parts of our society and economy, you have those restrictions in order to enable the schools to open."

Mr Halfon said he was 'hugely worried' about the 'impact on mental health, on educational attainment, on safeguarding' as schools are shut.

He told Times Radio: "I'm not a lockdown sceptic - I voted for all of the Government measures - but I am a permanent school-down sceptic.

"We're creating a 'have and have not' society with some children doing remote learning and disadvantaged children doing much less."