Hundreds of thousands of pupils will not return to schools and colleges as planned due to rising infection rates and the spread of the new Covid variant.

All pupils in exam years will return to secondary schools in England from January 11 while the rest of secondary and college students will go back full-time on January 18 - a delay to the planned return to school.

READ MORE: Bracknell readers have their say on schools reopening

Yesterday, it was announced that all primary schools in a “small number of areas” where Covid-19 infection rates are the highest will not reopen for face-to-face teaching to all pupils as planned next week.

Bracknell Forest Council has given an update regarding school's reopening, reminding parents of the new rules.

The authority has made it clear that primary schools will return the week starting Monday, January 4 2021.

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Secondary schools and colleges in Bracknell will remain closed until Monday, January 18, apart from those in exam years who will be able to return from 11 January.

Secondary school pupils in exam years will start remote learning from Monday, January 4, and the rest of secondary school year groups will start remote learning from Monday, January 11.

Cllr Gareth Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning, said: “The Government’s announcement yesterday made it clear that children should return for face-to-face learning as soon as practically possible.

“For Bracknell Forest primary schools that means children return to the classroom from 4 January. There is a staggered return to secondary school for face-to-face learning in January to allow for testing to be set up and rolled out.  During this time, online learning will be made available in various forms.

“I’d like to reiterate that it’s really important for children’s intellectual and social education that they go to school and it’s also important for their mental health and wellbeing. For those reasons, I’m urging everyone with school-aged children to make sure they go to school as per the advised dates unless they are designated as clinically extremely vulnerable, have COVID-19 symptoms, live with someone who has symptoms or have been told to self-isolate.

“This is yet another challenge for our schools in a very uncertain time; however, I’m confident that all our schools will rise to the challenge and provide the emotional, social and academic education our children need to thrive and develop.

“I would urge parents and carers to speak directly to their child’s school if they have concerns or enquiries so that these can be looked in to and appropriate advice and reassurance can be provided.”

Mass testing is also due to be rolled out in secondary schools at the start of the new term.

All schools, both primary and secondary, will remain open from 4 January for children of critical workers and children who are considered vulnerable.