Should Wakefeld's primary schools have stayed closed after Christmas? This is what people in Wakefield had to say

Thousands of children in Wakefield returned to school this morning, as the district's director of public health took to Twitter to reassure families that rates of Covid-19 among children "remain steady".

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce new, stricter measures for England later today.

We asked our readers on Twitter and Facebook whether they thought the government's decision to reopen schools was the right one.

These were some of the responses:

Alice Marie Weston said: "The kids have missed out on so much this past year, no way should we shut them. Give them some normality. Been at a computer screen for hours a day in their own home does them no good.

"My kids' school do all they can. Their kept in their school bubbles and don't even eat in the school hall among other children. They need socialization. They already can't do normal things like soft play, birthday parties and visit family."

Amy Purkiss-Ellison said: "I had my son crying to go back to School cos he missed his mates. Plus unfortunately for a lot of children in our district, school Is a sanctuary. They need that safe haven!"

@AntonTheAwesome said: "The whole lockdown should never have been ended."

Ronnie Pitchforth said: "Remain closed then it's not getting spread round are young who then won't spread it to the older generation then older still, and lockdown and stop travel to other countries."

Katie Sidney wrote: "Open them this is our kids education. I'm not being selfish but I'm a parent not a teacher.

"I've 2 children with additional needs who need their school routine. Working at home has too many distractions."

Sharifa Firth said: "Close them. Children health and teacher health are at risk. Children may not get to poorly but they are bring the virus home to there parents who could get very poorly or worse.

"How would that effect the mental health? My children are scared to go to school. If I don't send them then I will get fined. The system is unfair."

Sue Smiley Stevens said: "Close them now and look after our teaching staff. No, I'm not a teacher and I have no school age children.

"We peaked again in September when they went back. Needless to say, we will peak even higher now if they remain open. Wait for the vaccine and then restart the whole year."

Michelle Nickols said: "Schools should be open for all ages. My daughter is doing online learning. She has got a headache.

"Due to be sat at a laptop since 8.25 this morning. She’s getting stressed out becoz the live lessons aren’t working properly."

Rose Morgan said: "Personally I don't know but wouldn't want my friend who's a teacher to catch it. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."

@Strangeway5_ wrote: "Close them. At work we have strict SOPs and PPE that is not viable or encouraged in schools. I wouldn't want to work under those conditions and I'm not happy risking my son's health, or his teachers, or the wider community."