Buckinghamshire Council cabinet member for education and skills Cllr Anita Cranmer writes to Bucks Free Press readers:

The last few months have been difficult for us all and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our parents, school staff, teachers and pupils, for their hard work juggling home, work and school and childcare life.

No-one could have anticipated the challenges that everyone has had to face over the past year, but working together with goodwill and understanding has meant that we can now start to look to the future.

The first step in that journey forward will take place on Monday, 8 March, when all pupils and students in England can start to return to face to face education in school and further education.

We are working hard with all our schools to ensure the safe return of all Buckinghamshire students to the classroom.

Regular testing of people without symptoms is important to help stop the virus spreading and protect your loved ones.

As lockdown restrictions gradually ease we all need to play our part to help protect each other.

The following people in England will have access to regular rapid lateral flow testing made available to them as schools reopen:

n Secondary school pupils – these tests will be arranged by the school

n Primary and secondary school staff – upon returning to school, teaching and non-teaching staff of primary and secondary schools should take twice-weekly tests using a home test kit provided by their school. This includes permanent, temporary and voluntary school staff. Staff should contact their school for further details.

n Households, childcare and support bubbles of primary and secondary-age pupils

n Households, childcare and support bubbles of primary and secondary staff

For further information about this, visit www.gov.uk/guidance/rapid-lateral-flow-testing-for-households-and-bubbles-of-school-pupils-and-staff

Primary school pupils will not be asked to test at this time but if parents and carers want to get the children tested (and they have no symptoms) they can visit one of the rapid testing sites, which you can find at www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/get-tested-for-covid-19/

Anyone with symptoms who wants to take a test should visit www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119.