Like many families across Dudley, this week sees a return to normal after the summer holidays. I am writing this column from my office in Parliament, my children are getting ready to go back to school tomorrow, and my wife will be back at the school where she works.

But of course, it is far from a normal start of term. The Covid-19 pandemic has now lasted six months, with millions of people having been away from work and school for long periods since the spring. While many have been back at work for some time – and more than 1.5million children were back at school before the summer – returning after long periods away can be difficult emotionally.

But while the battle against coronavirus is far from over, it is vital that all children can resume their education now that it is safe to do so. The closure of schools has had a huge impact on children’s progress – and it is clear that vulnerable and disadvantaged children have been particularly badly hit.

I would like to say a big thank you to all of the teachers and support staff who have worked so hard to get us to this point. If it weren’t for their dedication, putting in so much effort to ensure our children can return this week, then this next step forward for the whole country would not have been possible.

Both pupils and staff will notice that things are very different this term. I saw some of those changes just before the summer holidays when I visited Brockmoor Primary School and saw how the team there had worked to make sure that all year groups had already been able to return. I know just how valuable the experiences of Mr Bond and his team – and the other local schools that had been able to reopen last term for all pupils – have been in helping schools across Dudley to get ready to welcome back all of their pupils this term.

As well as getting children back to school, we need to get our economy moving again. People’s jobs and livelihoods are dependent on it, as so many places are reliant on the support of workers from offices and factories that are based around town centres – and many parents are only able to return to these jobs as their children return to school.

And it isn’t just the big names who suffer. The Waterfront is a prime example, because while the offices there have been less occupied than usual, there has been a knock-on effect on Brierley Hill High Street.

We now know so much more about Covid 19 and how to limit its spread – and the data shows that the virus continues to be in retreat.

As we return to school and return to work – a step made possible by the hard work and practice of social distancing, good hand hygiene and ‘staying alert’ – it will be just as necessary to keep up that ard work and hold the virus at bay.”