Outdoor mixing between households could be allowed by Easter as coronavirus restrictions in England are gradually unwound, according to reports.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due on Monday to outline a potential route out of lockdown for England over the coming weeks.
Downing Street is considering allowing meetings between friends and family in parks, with households able to mix regardless of the number of people, the Times reported.
Another widely expected change is that students will be able to start returning to school from next month, with younger students heading back to the classroom first.
While Mr Johnson has not confirmed the reports, further relaxation of some coronavirus rules were announced on Saturday.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said care home residents in England will be allowed one regular visitor from March 8, following the UK's successful vaccination campaign.
Older people living in care homes have been offered the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, with almost 17 million shots given to date.
The number of infections in the United Kingdom has also fallen from a peak at the beginning of the year, although it still remains high.
Each care home resident will be able to name one visitor, who will be required to take a Covid-19 test beforehand, wear personal protective equipment during the visit and avoid close contact beyond holding hands.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the measure would allow people to be carefully and safely reunited with loved ones.
"This is just the first step to getting back to where we want to be," he said.
"We need to make sure we keep the infection rate down, to allow greater visiting in a step by step way in the future."
The UK's minister for care Helen Whately said: "One of the hardest things during this pandemic has been seeing families desperate to be reunited with their loved ones kept apart and I absolutely want to bring them back together.
"As we begin to open up we will move step by step to increase visits while remembering we are still in the grip of a global pandemic."
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
