Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said it is the "right time" for children to go back to school as there is more harm done to them by not being there.

Mr Williamson also said schools would only close as "the very last resort", because children had "missed out on so much by not being at schools".

Fines would also be "very much the last resort" for parents who don't send their children back, he added, urging schools to work with parents to persuade them it is safe.

Asked if he understood why parents might not trust him personally, following the exams row, Mr Williamson said he had tried to work "with absolute fairness".


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