Wiltshire Council has urged key worker parents to have children learn from home if possible as schools.

In an open letter to parents, director of education and skills, Helean Hughes said if the children of key workers can learn at home then they should.

Ms Hughes said that Wiltshire schools are busier now than during the first lockdown last year.

This, according to the education director, is to ease the pressures felt on schools.

She wrote: “If you are a critical worker but your child can learn at home, please can we ask they remain at home and access remote learning.

“This will help free up places in schools and help to keep numbers low.

“Currently our schools are much busier than they were during the first lockdown, with almost the same numbers in some primary schools as there were in June when a number of year groups were able to attend.

“We would ask those parents who are classed as critical workers, but who can keep their child at home to access remote education, to please do so.

“Schools that need to will be prioritising places for NHS and health workers, social care and those who work in the education sector.”