A PRIMARY school in Herefordshire has said it's been tasked with "something incredibly difficult to put in place overnight" as England's third national lockdown begins.

Ledbury Primary School, like every other school across England, will only be open for children of key workers and those who are vulnerable from tomorrow, meaning plans need to be drawn up overnight.

It's because Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced England's third national lockdown on Monday evening, where school and colleges must close for most pupils.

It means school bosses have to plan for the first day of term tomorrow with only around 12 hours overnight to make sure everything is in place.

"Following the Prime Minister's announcement tonight, we have now been tasked with something incredibly difficult to put in place overnight, before our first day back," the school said.

"School will be open to children of key workers - to those who cannot stay at home.

"If you are working at home, your child should be at home. Also, to those pupils who have education, health and care plan (EHCP) and those we may contact.

"The 'new rule' is you should stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. We will need to put a new remote learning plan in place to provide for all pupils, whether they are in school as the children of key workers, or learning at home.

"We need to know as soon as possible if your child should be in school tomorrow because you are a key worker or your child has an EHCP."

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They added: "School will be closed from tomorrow and we will send out remote learning arrangements to all of our Ledbury Primary School families tomorrow afternoon. Our school nursery will also be closed tomorrow whilst we clarify the guidance."

Boris Johnson imposed the third national lockdown on England and shut schools to most students to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed by surging coronavirus infections.

In a televised address to the nation on Monday night, the Prime Minister told the nation to stay indoors other than for limited exceptions, with measures expected to last until mid-February.

And the Prime Minister bowed to significant pressure to order primary schools, secondaries and colleges to move to remote teaching for the majority of students from Tuesday.

Mr Johnson said the new variant, which is up to 70% more transmissible, was spreading in a “frustrating and alarming” manner, and warned that the number of Covid patients in English hospitals is 40% higher than the first peak.