This week we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel for this lockdown and hopefully the entire pandemic.

The Prime Minister's announcement on Monday that we can begin gradual reopening of life from the drudgery of lockdown has brought a growing sense of hope that is aptly tied to our entry into the brighter and warmer days of spring.

First to benefit from this slow return to normality will be school children who will make their way to school once more on 8 March.

This will no doubt be welcome news for families across Macclesfield and beyond who have sacrificed so much in the aim of protecting society's most vulnerable from the virus.

As a society, we owe it to children that the immense damage done to their education will not be a permanent scar on their lives and life chances.

We will all welcome Gavin Williamson's commitment that no child should be "blighted" by the pandemic and the additional £700 million to help pupils catch up through the likes of summer schools, but it is only the start.

Much like rebuilding the economy post-Covid will be a long-term project, so too will be rebuilding our children's education, especially those who were already 'left behind' before the pandemic.

Remote learning has been a stark example of the divide that exists.

Parents and teachers have been working overtime to make it work, but a child can't learn online with no laptop or is forced to share with siblings, as is the case for thousands.

In her final speech as Children's Commissioner, Anne Longfield said: "It's impossible to overstate how damaging the last year has been for many children – particularly those who were already disadvantaged.

"Covid is the biggest challenge to our society in seventy years. But also an opportunity to reflect and rebuild … 'Building back better' must mean rethinking our priorities and the way we care for children."

If societies are judged by how they care for their vulnerable, then this pandemic will be damning in many respects. In the months and years to come, let's endeavour to do better when it comes to our children.