Teaching unions have accused the government of “another last-minute mess” over delaying the start of the new school term in England. Similar delays have been announced in Scotland and Northern Ireland too.

The education secretary refused the offer of an interview with us – in fact he’s never done one with this programme in his current role. But speaking to other media he said he was confident schools could get mass testing set up and running by the time they reopen.

We report from Essex, where hospitals are struggling with high infections.

Teaching unions accuse government of ‘last-minute mess’ over England’s delayed school reopenings