Schools in some parts of England could stay closed until February half term, if infection rates are not under control.
This comes after experts, including SAGE, are worried that the current Tiers are not enough to control the new strain of coronavirus.
Government sources have warned there was no guarantee that pupils whose primary schools have shut will all return when the system is reviewed on by January 18, the Mirror reports.
It was revealed this week that around 15% of England's primary schools, in 50 council areas, will shut to all except vulnerable and key workers' children.
However there is no guarantee that these closures will end when the “contingency framework” is reviewed in two weeks’ time.
Speaking to the Mirror, an insider suggested a mid-February date was “pessimistic” but did not rule it out.
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While Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, said he wanted to keep closures “as short as possible” but did not give a cut-off date.
Another source told the Telegraph: "We have been careful not to say they will definitely reopen on January 18 because we don't know that."
Currently in Tier 4 - schools remain open by default - unless closed under a local order.
But some scientists believe that these current Tier 4 rules alone are not enough to stop the R number growing - especially in areas where the new variant is spreading.
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The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies said on December 22: "It is highly unlikely that measures with stringency and adherence in line with the measures in England in November (i.e. with schools open) would be sufficient to maintain R below 1 in the presence of the new variant."
For now, there is no change to secondary schools or colleges because they are only returning from January 18 anyway.
However, if the framework continues beyond January 18 it would likely force Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 to stay at home in the worst-hit areas.
Some or all areas could be removed from the closure list from January 18, but others could also be added to it.
