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Many of you are getting in touch with the BBC Midlands Facebook , externalsite with questions about school closures including what will happen about exams.

In England and in Wales, all exams in May and June have been cancelled, including GCSEs and A-levels as well as England's primary school national curriculum tests, known as Sats.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told the Commons on Wednesday: "I can confirm we will not go ahead with assessments or exams and that we will not be publishing performance tables for this academic year.

"We will work with the sector and [the exams watchdog] Ofqual to ensure children get the qualifications that they need."

More details will be released on England's plans on Friday.

You can find more questions being answered on our live stream here.

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The prime minister's decision to close schools has shocked some parents who say they'll struggle to juggle home-schooling and work.

Kate Pike said: "It's going to be a difficult time for parents to cope and manage the situation.

"It's going to be a struggle in unknown times for people.

"My husband is a police officer so we're counted as key workers, so hopefully the kids will still benefit from going into the school - but what that means at the minute, we still don't know."

Travel pass restrictions have been lifted as some supermarkets dedicate the first hours of shopping to older and vulnerable people.

Sainsbury's has followed other supermarkets in introducing reserved time slots for the elderly.

The leader of Sandwell Council says she's "extremely sad to hear of the first death from coronavirus".

Councillor Yvonne Davies said: “We are working very closely with NHS partners, care providers and a wide range of services and organisations to protect and support our communities, especially older and other vulnerable people who are at most risk, and to prevent the spread of infection."

The prime minister's decision to close schools on Friday has left some parents "more confused," said a Warwickshire mum.

The government has promised to give more details on how school closures will affect students and parents after criticism over a lack of clarity.

Kelly, speaking outside Alveston Church of England Primary School, near Stratford-upon-Avon, said: "I think he's closed schools too early, I think that they should have been closed at Easter and then it would have given parents two weeks to prepare.

"It seems he's made the announcement with no forethought for the parents in any way because it's raised more questions than it's given answers - especially for key workers."

A Facebook group set up to help families share tips and activity ideas for children has now attracted more than 85,000 members.

Gemma-Katie Arthurson, 36, from Whitnash in Warwickshire said she set up the group Plan C , externalat the weekend "and it's now just snowballed".

"I thought we'd maybe get 100 or so local mums sharing ideas - then I woke up this morning to 87,820."

"We've got people from all over the country and 12 different countries across the world," she said.

"We've been trying to keep anxiety low on the group and keep it really positive with just ideas, she added

"But there is a feeling - I don't think anyone likes the unknown and parents trying to prepare your children for it, it's just uncharted territory."

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Lots of you have been getting in touch with us via the BBC Midlands Facebook, external site with questions about the school closures.

We'll try to answer as many as we can.

A few people are asking will every school be completely closed?

No. Some schools will be kept open with a skeleton staff to provide support for the children of key workers, such as NHS staff, police and delivery drivers.

They will also be asked to help those most in need - for example, children who receive free school meals.

Teaching unions are supportive of these measures, but say they want to see more details of the plans.

The government says it's also asking nurseries and private schools to close, and will provide financial support if needed.

You can find more information on what will happen now here.

A mum said juggling home schooling with working from home "certainly won't be easy".

"Our kids are already in isolation and yesterday was the first day in the school of mum and dad," said Floraine Eastelow, from Coventry.

"Hopefully there will be a structured online support for children and parents.

"My eldest daughter is not happy at the prospect of no school for months, she will miss her friends.

I'm sure they will come through the other side valuing what school gives them - a great education that many children in the world could only dream of."

The Prime Minister and the supermarkets have urged shoppers to be sensible when buying food.

Panic-buying is showing no signs of abating after the announcement that schools are to close.

This is the current scene outside an Aldi store in Coventry.

Image source, Theresa Bowers

Image source, Theresa Bowers

School kitchens are being called on to provide dinners for children on free school meals after pupils are sent home due to the coronavirus crisis.

Official data shows Birmingham is among the places with the highest rates of children on free school meals.

Charity Feeding Britain, which operates in Coventry, said it was working with schools to provide meals for parents to take home.

The charity is already working with a "core group" of schools to use their canteens to produce the meals, whereas in normal holidays they would remain closed.

The Royal Shakespeare company is among arts organisations working on helping parents and children after schools close on Friday.

It said it hopes to have some "exciting opportunities" coming up.

Children of key workers and vulnerable pupils will still be able to attend schools but all GSCEs and A-Levels in England and Wales will be cancelled amid the coronavirus crisis.

"Coming to work this morning was somewhat surreal," said one Coventry school teacher.

Image source, Google

Science teacher Debbie Hayter, from King Henry VIII School in Coventry, said: "We all knew [the announcement] was coming but what took us all by surprise last night was the fact it was indefinite - that makes our planning very difficult.

"And also [that] the exams for years 11 and 13 were cancelled because in our minds that had been our key focus in our planning to carry on until Easter - now what do we do?"

One parent has described the school closures as "uncharted territory".

Image source, Hilary Hopker

Hilary Hopker from Coventry said although school closures were expected, it was a "daunting time for parents who are to now take on the role of teachers and somehow manage that full-time while trying to work from home".

She added: "It's an uncertain time for children too, we do not know when they will go back to school.

"Parenting often pushes you into uncharted territory, but no one has navigated these waters before."

Schools across the West Midlands will join others across the UK to close their doors tomorrow, except to vulnerable pupils or children of key workers.

Some are calling for urgent clarity from the government after the announcement that GSCEs and A-Levels in England and Wales will be cancelled amid the coronavirus crisis.

Announcing the closure of schools in England on Wednesday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told MPs officials were working with exam boards "to ensure that children get the qualifications they need".

Schools supporting key workers' children will be expected to remain open during the Easter holidays, while officials are considering who is classed under this category.

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

As schools are set to close across the West Midlands, we'll be bringing you live updates.

If you'd like to share your story you can contact us via via email, Twitter , externaland Facebook., external