With just days left of the current school term, fears are growing that pupils may not return in January as planned. Amid a surge from the Omicron variant, many settings are having to close early for the festive break because of the impact cases are having on staff.
For many parents and teachers there's a real sense of deja vu, as it was this time last year when classes were being sent home to isolate with staff teaching remotely once again.
The government is maintaining the line that 'the classroom is the very best place for children', and just today issued a warning to parents not to take their children out of school before the term ends.
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