AROUND 95 per cent of primary schools in Warrington opened as normal today, Monday.

Schools across the borough have welcomed back primary pupils after the Christmas break - despite unions warning it is 'not safe' and urging the Government to close all schools for the next two weeks.

A number of Warrington primary schools arranged inset training days for the first day of term, but are set to reopen tomorrow, Tuesday.

Ravenbank Primary School in Lymm has not opened while it assesses the current situation.

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Boris Johnson has insisted that the risk to teachers was no greater than to anyone else, as the Government came under pressure to keep the majority of pupils out of class and to switch to remote education.

Mr Johnson said that closing schools was a 'last resort'.

Only London's primary schools, and those in some surrounding areas worst hit by Covid-19, will not reopen until January 18.

"The risk to teachers, and of course we will do everything we can to protect teachers, but the risk to teachers is no greater than it is to anyone else," the Prime Minister said.

"The reasons for wanting to keep schools open, I think, are very, very powerful."

Louise Smith is CEO of Warrington Primary Academy Trust (WPAT), which is made up of five schools in Warrington and two in Widnes.

She said: "We have reopened all of our schools as planned today and our plan is to remain open unless we are instructed to close by the Government.

"At the moment, we remain confident that the health and safety measures we have in place in our schools will make the return of children and staff as safe as possible.

"We will, of course, continue to review these procedures in the light of any changes in government and public health guidance.

"All of our schools have been providing online learning for children who are unable to attend because of self-isolation since September and this will continue.

"We are fully prepared to switch over completely to online learning should we need to do so."

The start of the new school term also marks the beginning of rapid testing kits being available in schools.

So far, 500 testing kits have been delivered to schools in Warrington and Warrington Borough Council is now offering testing kits for any schools who require them.

In a letter to head teachers, Steven Broomhead, chief executive of Warrington Borough Council, explained: "We will be working closely with school leaders in secondary, specialist and FE colleges to launch the rapid testing programme in the spring term.

"The vast majority of settings have taken an additional inset day on Monday (today) to plan for this and have sent out information to parents in preparation for the programme.

"It is aimed that weekly testing will be available for all secondary and college staff and daily serial testing will be offered to staff and students in close contact of positive cases as an alternative to self-isolation as soon as possible in the spring term."

Secondary school students in exam years will receive remote education for the first week of term and return to face-to-face education during the week commencing January 11.

All students in secondary schools and colleges are expected to return on January 18.