School is out across much of England as staff and pupils prepare for a much-needed Christmas break. But many are still unsure what a return to the classroom in January will look like. 

Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the Public Accounts Committee, said it was “ludicrous” that parents and schools still did not know, on the final day of term for many, what was happening on the week commencing January 4.

Speaking about events in London this week – where Greenwich Council said it would be closing schools early, then education secretary Gavin Williamson ordered them to stay open – Hillier said parents had received “very confusing messages” from Government and local authorities. She described it as a “complete dog’s breakfast”.

On Thursday evening, the Department for Education did publish some guidance for schools on how to return in January. Here’s what we know so far. 

Children in nursery and primary school

Children in nursery and primary school will go back to class as normal in January, the government confirmed. 

This is because younger children are rarely impacted by Covid-19 and “show minimal symptoms of SARS2 infection and often have no symptoms at all,” according to researchers. 

Debate continues about whether young children can spread the virus asymptomatically, though. A large study from South Korea suggests kids under 10-years-old spread the virus to others far less often than adults do, though a separate German study suggests children may be as infectious as adults. 

Children in secondary school and college 

The Department for Education (DfE) has ordered secondary schools to stagger the return of students in January. 

It said students in exam years (particularly those in years 11 and 13), key workers’ children and vulnerable pupils in secondary schools and colleges should return as normal after the Christmas holidays. However, the majority of secondary school pupils should start the term online.

It will be down to schools to organise their phased reopening, so if your child falls outside one of the priority groups, you’ll need to wait to be told by the school when they should return. Face-to-face education for all students will resume on January 11. 

It is hoped the staggered return will allow headteachers to roll out mass testing of children and staff in the new year.

What’s happening with testing? 

Every secondary school and college in England will be given access to rapid coronavirus tests from January, the government confirmed. 

In the week before Christmas, almost 700,000 children in England did not attend school for coronavirus-related reasons – such as needing to self-isolate. It’s hoped the new testing system will keep more kids in the classroom. 

From January, students will be eligible for daily testing for seven days if they are identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive.

Students will not need to self-isolate if another student or staff member tests positive in their “bubble” if they agree to be tested once a day in the new year.

The tests will require the consent of parents, students or school staff, the DfE added. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “This huge expansion of rapid testing for those working in education is a milestone moment in our work to keep schools and colleges open for all.”