A LEADING teacher is calling for clarity for teachers, students and parents as the Government prepares to outline the "roadmap" out of the coronavirus lockdown.

Ministers are reviewing the restrictions ahead of an announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday setting out his "roadmap" out of lockdown.

More than 60 lockdown-sceptic Tory MPs in the Covid Research Group CRG are backing a letter to the Prime Minister insisting he commit to a firm timetable for ending controls.

They said schools "must" return on March 8 as planned with pubs and restaurants opening in a "commercially viable manner" from Easter, with the end of April marking the final end of lockdown.

Louise Atkinson, national executive member for the National Education Union and a teacher in Carlisle said: "It is a bit difficult to say without the information and guidance about where we are going and what to expect.

"Whatever comes out on Monday I hope we get some clear guidance.

"The last couple of times guidance has come out late.

"It was welcome when Gavin Williamson (Education Secretary) said he would give two weeks of notice. I hope they stick to that on Monday."

Mrs Atkinson is concerned.

"I don't want us to go back to saying schools are Covid-secure and free of risk. I accept we are not going to be back to no risk, I just hope the science is followed. We are one of the worst countries in Europe for overcrowded classrooms.

"We can't just say 'wash your hands' and just put pupils back into classrooms."

She said that although the risk from coronavirus is low in school-aged children, that they could still spread cases to more vulnerable members of society.

Mrs Atkinson is eager for a return to the classroom, but only with suitable measures in place.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister was told he should opt for a "phased return" of school and college pupils to classrooms in England or risk another spike in Covid-19 infections, a coalition of education unions warned.

Unions representing school and college staff and headteachers are "increasingly concerned" that the Government could go ahead with a full return of all pupils in England on March 8.

A joint statement says: "This would seem a reckless course of action. It could trigger another spike in Covid infections, prolong the disruption of education and risk throwing away progress made in suppressing the virus over the course of the latest lockdown."