this is bbc news — with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. schools in england are reopening to all pupils tomorrow — borisjohnson describes it as "the first step" in moving closer to normality. on the third day of his historic trip to iraq — pope francis visits a church in the northern town of qaraqosh which was devastated by islamic state militants. the royal family marks commonwealth day — just hours before the duke and duchess of sussex's interview with oprah winfrey.

hello and welcome, if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the prime minister, borisjohnson, has described the reopening of schools in england to all pupils tomorrow as "the first step" in moving closer to normality. nearly 57 million lateral flow tests for coronavirus have been delivered to schools and colleges. the national education union has called for a phased reopening, similar to the process in scotland and wales, warning that what it describes as a "big bang" approach is "reckless." but a survey by the insitute for fiscal studies suggests the vast majority of parents are happy to send their children back. our education editor, branwen jeffreys, reports. it's been tough for parents, home—schooling while juggling work. but it's back to classrooms in england tomorrow and most parents are relieved. almost 6,000 parents gave their views on school return. around 90% support the return

to classrooms, more than 60% are worried about lost learning. so, it's no surprise that 80% support tutoring. but parents also want creative and outdoor activities. so, how long do they think it will take children to catch up? 31% of parents who are concerned about lost learning think that it will take their child a whole year or longer to make up for everything that they've lost out on over the course of the pandemic. at the extreme end, 9% of secondary school parents think that their child won't be able to make up for their lost learning ever. tutoring is already under way in some schools, a national programme in england is part of catch up — the government has committed £1.7 billion for this year and next, but faces calls for a longer—term plan after that. branwen jeffreys, bbc news. one of the measures being introduced alongside the reopening of schools is the recommended wearing of facemasks for all secondary school children.

speaking to the bbc�*s andrew marr, the education secretary gavin williamson said pupils understood the reasons why they had to wear them. as someone who has a 16—year—old and a m—year—old, when you speak to them, and speak to all children, they recognise that what we're asking them to do is about notjust keeping them safe, but also their friends, their teachers, the whole school community safe. also their families and the broader community, as well. so, we saw the wearing of the masks in communal areas that wasn't compulsory but was strongly advised. we saw that between september and december, and it worked very, very well. we recognise we're asking people to go a little bit above and beyond, but it's just one of the many measures that we put in place to reduce infection, reduce transmission, reduce the chances of people getting covid. after months out of the classroom, and a year of disrupted learning, many parents in england are spending

today helping their children adjust for the return to school tomorrow. earlier, i asked child psychologist dr sarah mundy how parents could best prepare their children. we need to prepare them if there's information coming from the school. that's really useful to go through with them. anything pictorial, what's going to happen with rules, whether they're wearingfacemasks or not. practise wearing facemasks, practice walking to school, check the school uniform fits, that the lunchboxes aren't mouldy. with little ones, play is so important. so, even playing through what's going to happen, reading books about going to school. that's preparing, and then there's thinking about the routine. a lot of children will be out of routine, yet we know that sleep is massively important and that tired children don't manage that well. so, if you can get back into some sort of early bedtime, regular routines, eating at regular mealtimes. because we know that change and uncertainty is difficult, and if we have more certainty and predictability at home

children will manage more. what is key is that we know that children are anxious at the moment — there is a lot of research out there saying that children are more anxious than normal. if you think about when you had a six weeks off over the school holidays, how anxious you might have been going back to school. we need to help children understand this. they might not know they're feeling this. certainly, in my clinical work last week, children were very irritable, there were a lot of fractious relationships at home. this is likely to be anxiety. so, we need to label that with children. we need to say, you're pribably feeling wobbly. probably feeling wobbly. what are you worried about? it's ok to feel worried because most people will be, it's very normal. but try and explore with your child, try and validate what they are feeling, try and say that's ok and try and work out what they're thinking about. lets bring you what appears to be some encouraging news about the

british iranian aid worker, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, who as you know has been imprisoned in iran forfive years. we don't have confirmation on this, but we are hearing that her iranian lawyer has told an iranian website that she has been freed. her sentence is due to end today, this is technically the last day of that five year sentence for allegedly plotting to overthrow the clerical establishment. as been a disparate, long fight for her release by her husband, richard, by herfamily, like many of her supporters as well. what her iranian lawyer is reported to have told and iranian website is that she has been freed. quote, she was pardoned by iran's supreme leader last year but spent the last

year of her term under house arrest with electronic shackles tied to her feet. they lawyer says that those shackles are now cast. all according to an iranian website, we haven't had it confirmed. it confirmed. it has been quoted by the reuters news agency. it does appear to be extremely positive news. she is 42 years of age, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, held in iran since 2016. that's when she was sentenced to five years in prison over allegations, which she has always denied, of plotting to overthrow the iranian government. she was arrested initially at tehran�*s airport while travelling to show her young daughter to her parents in 2016. march numeric serving was always today when her

sentence was scheduled to come to an end, but herfamily and sentence was scheduled to come to an end, but her family and supporters have always said that she had something of a political pawn and they couldn't be sure that she would be released when she should be released. her husband and daughter had been waiting and waiting to find out if they may actually be reunited with nazanin at their home in north london, or it that those hopes of reuniting the four would be cruelly dashed. as i say, the indications from her iranian lawyer is that she has been freed from house arrest, that her electronic shackles tied to herfeet that her electronic shackles tied to her feet have now been cast off, and having been pardoned by iran's supreme leader last year and spending the last year of her five yearjewel spending the last year of her five year jewel term spending the last year of her five yearjewel term under house arrest,

thatis yearjewel term under house arrest, that is now over and that she has been three. as soon as we got confirmation on that, we will bring you those details. labour have accused the chancellor of "sneaking out" an announcement on nhs pay a day after the budget because he was "too cowardly" to announce it on the day. the government have proposed a 1% pay increase for nhs workers in england next year. 0ur political correspondent, jessica parker, said the pay recommendation has led to a backlash from a number of health unions. the budget was on wednesday and the government saying it was submitting a recommendation, and it isjust a recommendation at the moment, for a 1% pay rise for nhs workers. there was quite a backlash from unions and, actually, from nhs providers. they represent health trusts in england. they said there was a long term funding settlement for the nhs

which was enshrined in law, which included an assumption that nhs workers would actually get a 2.1% pay rise over the coming year. that is something that labour's shadow health secretary, jon ashworth, was keen to bring up this morning. this document is of the nhs's long—term spending plan. it promised a 2.1% increase for nhs staff. not only was it promised, it was budgeted for and it was legislated upon. this is the law of the land. tory mps voted for 2.1%. that is a document. you can ask gavin williamson about it if you like. you say 2.1%, the rcn says 12.5%. it is a big gap. let me finish. the government budgeted 2.1% and they passed that in legislation, because the spending plans for the nhs came to the house of commons.

every tory mp voted for 2.1% injanuary last year. that should be the basis on which negotiations and discussions are now entered into with the trade unions. what the government have been saying is that while an overall funding settlement was enshrined in law, specific figures on pay were not. ministers have been pointing as well to the economic situation at the moment, saying nurses are being exempted from a wider public sector pay freeze, for example. interestingly, labour has asked what it would put to the pay review body in terms of a recommendation — it is not naming a figure. it is just saying that the pay review body should look at the figure. jonathan ashworth was also asked if he would support the possibly of strike action by nurses. he described that situation as a hypothetical, saying that nurses do not want to go on strike, and he would always support nurses. not entirely direct response to that question. nevertheless, gavin williamson was this morning asked if the pay offer was an insult to nurses.

nurses have been doing the whole| nhs, but also right across society, have been doing an amazing job. going to enormous lengths, - allowing us to beat this pandemic. we are incredibly- grateful for that work. this is why we are backing it up - with the investment we are putting in place on the nhs, _ supporting notjust those nurses, but doctors, the whole system, in order to be able to recover. i i very much look forward to seeing that continuedj investment flow into the nhs. the government has also talked about over1 million nhs workers, they say, are benifitting from existing multi—year pay deal. meanwhile, schools in england are going back tomorrow as the first stage of the prime minister's road map out of lockdown? that's right. a big moment. it is the first step out

of the third lockdown for england. schools are reopening to many students tomorrow. of course, they have been open to children of key workers, vulnerable children, throughout. i think it will be very interesting to monitor the impact on case rates. we have seen this fall in case rates recently, because of the lockdown, but also because people are keen to track the impact of the vaccine. i also think the government's testing regime is under quite a bit of scrutiny. the national education union, saying some schools are struggling to get parental consent for doing these tests which aren't mandatory. gavin williamson described them as an extra layer of protection this morning, but it is seen as a key part of trying to get jessica parker reporting there. more on that breaking news that a lawyer for nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, the british iranian women who has been

imprisoned in iran for the last five years, has been telling and iranian website that her captivity is at an end, that the electronic shackles that have been on her legs have been freed, that her house arrest is over. herfive year freed, that her house arrest is over. her five year sentence was due to end today, and her lawyer suggested to an iranian website that is indeed the case. although we are also hearing that a new date has now been set for nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe to appear in court on a separate case, in a separate allegation, and that she will have to appear in court in iran over that. whether this means nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe is actually going to be able to come home, to leave iran, come back to her husband and daughter, or not — we are still not entirely clear. her sentence does seem to have come to an end. she was

originally arrested after travelling from the uk with her baby daughter to visit her parents in 2016. she was accused of spying, something she has always denied. she was convicted at a secret trial five years ago, sentenced to five years in prison. none of herfamily sentenced to five years in prison. none of her family or supporters ever thought she would serve long, but she has done. today technically at that sentence expires. her lawyer has been quoted by an invading website saying she has been released, but we are hearing that a new date has been set for her to appear in court on a separate charge and in a separate case. so we still don't really know whether or not she is going to be able to get out of iran and come home to britain. we will try to talk to her mp, the mp for hampstead and kilburn, who i gather is talking right now on the phone to nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe,

so we may have some more information. it is not entirely clear, although it does seem she has been free from the end of her sense things, whether she will have to face new charges and potentially stay in iran. the prime minister has defended the government's 1% pay rise for the nhs. he was speaking this morning while visitng a vaccine centre in north london. i'm massively grateful to all nhs staff and social care workers who have been heroic throughout the pandemic. what we have done is try to give them as much as we can at the present time for supper the independent pay review body will obviously look at what we have proposed and come back. don't forget that there has been a public sector pay freeze, we are in a pretty tough time. we have tried to give the nhs as much as we possibly can, and that means in addition to the £140

billion annual money, we have another £62 billion to help support the nhs throughout the crisis. but my gratitude is overwhelming. i'm so grateful, particularly to the nurses, and thankfully we are seeing more nurses now in our amazing nhs. there are 10,000 more nurses this year than there were at last year. in spite of all the difficulties, we are seeing a big increase in recruitment as well, 34% more applications. recruitment as well, 3496 more applications-_ recruitment as well, 3496 more applications. let's go back to the story about _ applications. let's go back to the story about nazanin _ story about nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, and those reports coming from hot lawyer in iran that she has been released from herfive year sentence. she served five years, latterly, under house arrest. heart lawyer telling an iranian website that she has been free. we can get the latest from the labour

mp who represents her constituency, philip siddique, who has worked very closely with richard ratcliffe, nazanin�*s husband, to campaign for her release. thank you for being with us. what is your latest information?— with us. what is your latest information? . , ., ., ., information? the latest information i have is that _ information? the latest information i have is that she _ information? the latest information i have is that she has _ information? the latest information i have is that she has had _ information? the latest information i have is that she has had her- information? the latest information i have is that she has had her ankle| i have is that she has had her ankle tag removed, which meant that you couldn't really leave half parent's house where she has been over the last year. however, the bad news is that she has to go back to court next week. so i think it's a bit optimistic to say she has been completely released. she has been released of her ankle tag, it means that you can visit hot elderly grand mother. but she does have to go back to court, and we don't know what awaits them. do to court, and we don't know what awaits them-— to court, and we don't know what awaits them. do we know what the other charges _ awaits them. do we know what the other charges for _ awaits them. do we know what the other charges for that _ awaits them. do we know what the other charges for that other - awaits them. do we know what the other charges for that other court i other charges for that other court appearance? we other charges for that other court appearance?— other charges for that other court auearance? ., �* ~ ., ., , appearance? we don't know at this oint, but appearance? we don't know at this point. but i — appearance? we don't know at this point, but i can't _ appearance? we don't know at this point, but i can't say _

appearance? we don't know at this point, but i can't say that - appearance? we don't know at this point, but i can't say that nazanin. point, but i can't say that nazanin is quite worried, because there was talk of another case are being put against her, which may of course mean another sentence and we don't know how long for. much of does sound quite apprehensive and nervous about that. on one hand, they are celebrating that she does have some element of freedom returned in terms of not having the tracker any more. but we just don't know what is going to happen in the court case. this has been an _ to happen in the court case. this has been an unimaginable ordeal for has been an unimaginable ordealfor her, these five years separated from her, these five years separated from her husband and daughter. that’s her husband and daughter. that's riuht. she her husband and daughter. that's right. she hasn't— her husband and daughter. that's right. she hasn't seen _ her husband and daughter. that's right. she hasn't seen her- her husband and daughter. “trust�*s right. she hasn't seen her husband in five years. she did briefly have her daughter in iran for her, but then gabrielle that was brought back to london two years ago. so she has been separated from both of them. i know her daughter has been counting down the days on her calendar at home for her mother to return. in addition to having the ankle tag removed, we were hoping that she would get her british passport back.

that hasn't happened yet i'll love a stop i suppose we are halfway there, but she is not fully release. it has often been _ but she is not fully release. it has often been said _ but she is not fully release. it has often been said that _ but she is not fully release. it has often been said that she - but she is not fully release. it has often been said that she is - but she is not fully release. it has often been said that she is a - often been said that she is a political pawn in a game of chess, really, by the iranian leadership. do you feel that is still the case and she still is very much a part on whatever happens with this second court case in a few days' time? richard ratcliffe has always maintained that his wife is upon court between the two countries. nazanin told me herself about a prison guard told her that her imprisonment is directly linked to the money that we own iran as a country. she has been told that a few times, i obviously have no evidence of it. every time i have raised it with our government, i have categorically been told that there is no link between her imprisonment and the dead. however,

we cannot help but suspect that there is something there. is there an hinu there is something there. is there anything more _ there is something there. is there anything more that _ there is something there. is there anything more that the _ there is something there. is there anything more that the british - anything more that the british government, foreign office and foreign secretary can do in the next few days to help nazanin? for a start, few days to help nazanin? for a start. jeremy — few days to help nazanin? for a start, jeremy hunt _ few days to help nazanin? for a start, jeremy hunt when - few days to help nazanin? for a start, jeremy hunt when he - few days to help nazanin? for a j start, jeremy hunt when he was foreign secretary did give her diplomatic immunity. we don't feel that has been used enough. what they could do by using that is ask for her british passport back. if you could also have a visit from the british embassy, which she hasn't had. in the past, we have asked if people from the british embassy can go to her court case every time she is summoned to court, which is quite a few times, and that hasn't happened. those are the steps that we would really want our government to take and what we have been pushing for. i to take and what we have been pushing for-— to take and what we have been pushing for. to take and what we have been -aushin for. , , , ., pushing for. i suppose in terms of the mid of — pushing for. i suppose in terms of the mid of her _ pushing for. i suppose in terms of the mid of her husband _ pushing for. i suppose in terms of the mid of her husband and - the mid of her husband and supporters, it is kind of mixed

feelings. you know, i believe that this ankle tag has been removed, but some trepidation, anxiety and uncertainty about this court case? it is likely mid—game has been played on herfor it is likely mid—game has been played on her for five years now. she was initially told the tracker was coming off, she was very relieved. it was obviously symbolic and feeling that she has served at the end her sentence. she felt quite overjoyed. then the second minute, she had a report saying that she has to go back to court. 0bviously, she is very nervous about that and doesn't know what to expect. it may be a formality, she may go to court and be let off and that will be the end of it. but and be let off and that will be the end of it. �* , ., �* ~ ., ., end of it. but we 'ust don't know at this point. _ end of it. but we 'ust don't know at this point. very — end of it. but we just don't know at this point. very good _ end of it. but we just don't know at this point. very good to _ end of it. but we just don't know at this point. very good to talk - end of it. but we just don't know at this point. very good to talk to - this point. very good to talk to you. like one up there, labour and member of parliament who represents

the constituency where the ratcliffe family live. thank you very much for updating us on the situation. —— tulip siddiq. 0prah winfrey's controversial interview with the duke and duchess of sussex — airs in the us later tonight. just hours before the interview, the queen will address a uk television audience to share her annual commonwealth day message. we can speak to the broadcaster and commenter, bonnie greer. thank you very much for being with us. is it wise, do you think, for meghan and harry to be doing this very long interview?— meghan and harry to be doing this very long interview? well, you know, it sounds like — very long interview? well, you know, it sounds like it _ very long interview? well, you know, it sounds like it is _ very long interview? well, you know, it sounds like it is wise _ very long interview? well, you know, it sounds like it is wise for _ very long interview? well, you know, it sounds like it is wise for her - very long interview? well, you know, it sounds like it is wise for her at - it sounds like it is wise for her at this moment in her wife. she is going to have another child. —— in her life. you think about mortality, legacy, at a time like this. i don't know her, but i think she wanted to

say something about her time here. it is unfortunate, really, because the country had an opportunity to look, to take away an image that has, as far as the uae us is concerned, of being a nice place, rather quaint to something that resembles the 21st century. everyone here was excited about it. i've lived here for three decades and i love this country and i was very excited about the possibility of her and harry and what they could do. but the tabloid press and certain elements of breakfast television, not on this channel, i might add, sunk them. the thing that people don't realise, maybe they do, a country has a brand, and right now

meghan and hadi's brand is bigger than the united kingdom? i don't think the united kingdom is going to come out looking too good after tonight. d0 come out looking too good after toniaht. ,, ~ . tonight. do you think then that har and tonight. do you think then that harry and meghan _ tonight. do you think then that harry and meghan and - tonight. do you think then that harry and meghan and four- tonight. do you think then that harry and meghan and four are victims? i will people are saying that they really are not. they got everything they wanted, they went off to the united states, and they don't have to be doing this interview and talking to people like 0prah interview and talking to people like oprah winfrey. i interview and talking to people like oprah winfrey-— interview and talking to people like oprah winfrey. i have lived here for 30 ears oprah winfrey. i have lived here for 30 years and _ oprah winfrey. i have lived here for 30 years and you — oprah winfrey. i have lived here for 30 years and you live _ oprah winfrey. i have lived here for 30 years and you live -- _ oprah winfrey. i have lived here for 30 years and you live -- learn - 30 years and you live —— learn something every day. that is a real strong streak of resentment that is part of the culture too. if people weren't so resentful of other peoples lives, their positions, what they were born into, what they have — they might be able to step back and see that this was a woman who has made her life, she has done her work, she is in a foreign country,

she has come to live in the country of the man she loves. she is also the child of an african—american mother, so in america she is considered black. some of the elements that were ranged against her were underpinned by racism. i remember there is a picture of prince michael arriving at meghan's first luncheon with the female members of the family. she has on a brooch almost as big as her head. you look at that, you're sitting there, you come from another country, and meghan especially because she is an activist. and to see a member of your family walk into a room with that on, it's got

to hurt. i think is those sort of small things. of course, i don't know. but i think as small things like that that must wait on you at the end of the day. i’m like that that must wait on you at the end of the day.— like that that must wait on you at the end of the day. i'm 'ust going to say goodbye h the end of the day. i'm 'ust going to say goodbye to _ the end of the day. i'm just going to say goodbye to viewers - the end of the day. i'm just going to say goodbye to viewers on - the end of the day. i'm just goingj to say goodbye to viewers on bbc world. we want to continue to talk to you here on the bbc news channel. despite those accusations of racism, people will say it's all about the timing here. we are in the middle of a coronavirus pandemic, issued crisis, both in the uk and the us. in terms of the royal family, the duke of edinburgh is in hospital. thisjust isn't a duke of edinburgh is in hospital. this just isn't a good time to be aiding your grievances. i thisjust isn't a good time to be aiding your grievances.- thisjust isn't a good time to be aiding your grievances. i would say that, aiding your grievances. i would say that. because _ aiding your grievances. i would say that, because that's _ aiding your grievances. i would say that, because that's me. _ aiding your grievances. i would say that, because that's me. i- aiding your grievances. i would say that, because that's me. i maybe i that, because that's me. i maybe would have thought differently. we don't know how long this has been in the planning. it looks like either

party, neitherthe the planning. it looks like either party, neither the royal household nor the press communication and the oprah winfrey show, are actually talking to each other, and probably wouldn't be. this has to go down to hardy. hardy knows his family, he knows the custom is better than meghan. —— harry. don't be surprised that this is hadi's undertaking, this is what hardy wants to do. i'm old enough to remember that little boy walking behind his mother's coffin on the mall. you remember that image, remembered him growing up. harry is not a passive participant in this, harry might even be the driver. he did say in his interview with james corden a week ago, he is pretty candid about what he felt. so, is not all about

meghan, ithink what he felt. so, is not all about meghan, i think harry is pretty deep in this, he knows what he is doing. some people will say that when meghan entered into the royal family, she knew what she was getting into, what sort of establishment it is. why ever marry into the royal family if you don't think is the kind of life for you? harry mother, princess diana, was born on the royal estate of sanda sandringham, herfamily had been courtiers for hundreds of years— she didn't know what it was either. so we never know until you get in there, and then you either conform or you don't. they owner chose to get out and not conform, and her son has chosen to do that too. i want to emphasise, this his/her son, and this is what harry wants to do. that

is what we need focus on. this this is what harry wants to do. that is what we need focus on.— is what we need focus on. this is aooin to is what we need focus on. this is going to be _ is what we need focus on. this is going to be a _ is what we need focus on. this is going to be a long _ is what we need focus on. this is going to be a long interview, - is what we need focus on. this is going to be a long interview, a l going to be a long interview, a couple of hours— do you think i will be pretty explosive? couple of hours- do you think i will be pretty explosive?— be pretty explosive? looking at mechan's be pretty explosive? looking at meghan's face, _ be pretty explosive? looking at meghan's face, she _ be pretty explosive? looking at meghan's face, she is - be pretty explosive? looking at meghan's face, she is an - be pretty explosive? looking at meghan's face, she is an la - be pretty explosive? looking at| meghan's face, she is an la girl, be pretty explosive? looking at - meghan's face, she is an la girl, so it will be no holds barred. fiiq it will be no holds barred. ok, well, it will be no holds barred. ok, well. we _ it will be no holds barred. ok, well, we will _ it will be no holds barred. ok, well, we will see _ it will be no holds barred. ok, well, we will see what - it will be no holds barred. 0k, well, we will see what happens. it will certainly be a fascinating watch. always a great pleasure to talk to you, thank you forjoining us on bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith—lucas. hello. it's another fairly dry, settled day of weather out there with high pressure holding on for most of us. temperatures are still a little bit low for the time of year, but things are going to be changing, turning milder and more unsettled into next week. but through the course of today, there are variable amounts of cloud across much of the uk. some sunshine here and there, particular for south—west scotland, wales, southern england as well. patchy rain working in across northern parts of scotland through the day. temperatures 7—8 in the south, 9—10 further north.

into the afternoon and evening hours, we'll start to see that rain