Copy and paste from Guardian's live feed (for those interested in unions re: education):
Teaching union calls for schools to close
The National Education Union (NEU) has called for schools and colleges to be included in any lockdown.
The Union says that schools should only remain open to the children of key workers and vulnerable children during such a general closure period. Boris Johnson is expected to say that schools, universities and colleges should remain open in a four-week lockdown.
But Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU said:
It is clear from ONS data that schools are an engine for virus transmission. It would be self-defeating for the government to impose a national lockdown, whilst ignoring the role of schools as a major contributor to the spread of the virus.
Such a lockdown would impose pain on the whole community - but not be as effective as it could be if schools were included. Ignoring the role of schools and colleges in the spread of the virus is likely to lead to the need for even longer lockdowns in future.
The latest figures from the ONS estimate that 1% of primary pupils and 2% of secondary pupils have the virus and that these levels have increased dramatically since wider opening in September. NEU analysis of ONS figures shows that virus levels are now 9 times higher amongst primary pupils and an astonishing 50 times higher amongst secondary pupils.
The National Education Union called for a two week circuit break over half term to include schools, which the Wales Government and the Northern Ireland assembly have done - but the Government in Westminster has ignored this call. More severe measures are now called for as a result, the Government should not make this mistake again.
The government should include all schools in proposals for an immediate national lockdown and as a minimum be preparing for school rotas at the end of that period, including by actually meeting its promise to deliver broadband and equipment to those children who do not have them.
It is also vital that the government ensure proper financial support for all those affected by lockdown including crucial supply teachers and other staff.
Universities must move all non-essential teaching online if England goes into another national lockdown, a union has said.
The University and College Union (UCU) said it would be “incomprehensible” if teaching continued in person if England faces tighter restrictions from next week as expected.
Figures put together by the union suggest that there have been more than 35,000 cases on campuses since term started last month.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said:
The health and safety of the country is being put at risk because of this government’s insistence that universities must continue with in-person teaching.
It would be incomprehensible if universities were allowed to continue to do this after the outbreaks we have seen on campuses across the country this term.
Ministers must tell universities to move all non-essential in-person teaching online as part of any national lockdown.
The union has been campaigning for a total shift online for some time, and previously launched a petition demanding that the switch was made “where possible”.
It is thought that educational settings will be told that they can remain open if another lockdown is announced