Primary schools in Greater Manchester will reopen as planned next week, the government has confirmed.
Pupils will return to classrooms from January 4 across the region and in the majority of other areas across the country - but that date will be delayed in some parts of the south of England.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced today that the reopening of primary schools would be pushed back in 'a small number' of Tier 4 areas with the highest infection rates.
Schools in those areas will only offer face-to-face teaching to vulnerable children and the children of key workers.
It comes as coronavirus infection rates rocket, fuelled by a new, faster-spreading strain takes hold.
Greater Manchester will be placed into Tier 4, the highest level of coronavirus lockdown restrictions, it was announced earlier today.
But the region will not be subject to the primary school restrictions.
Secondary schools across the country will see a staggered return, with pupils in exam years 11 and 13 going back on January 11, and all secondary schools and colleges set to follow on January 18.
This is the full list of areas where primary schools must remain shut, until at least January 18.
London:
Barking and Dagenham
Barnet
Bexley
Brent
Bromley
Croydon
Ealing
Enfield
Hammersmith and Fulham
Havering
Hillingdon
Hounslow
Kensington and Chelsea
Merton
Newham
Richmond-Upon-Thames
Southwark
Sutton
Tower Hamlets
Waltham Forest
Wandsworth
Westminster
Essex:
Brentwood
Epping Forest
Castle Point
Basildon
Rochford
Harlow
Chelmsford
Braintree
Maldon
Southend on Sea
Thurrock
Kent:
Dartford
Gravesham
Sevenoaks
Medway
Ashford
Maidstone
Tonbridge and Malling
Tunbridge Wells
Swale
East Sussex:
Hastings
Rother
Buckinghamshire:
Milton Keynes
Hertfordshire:
Watford
Broxbourne
Hertsmere
Three Rivers
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “In secondary schools all vulnerable children and children of critical workers will go back next week across England as originally planned, but we will ask exam year pupils in secondary to learn remotely during the first week of term and return to the classroom from January 11.
“The remaining secondary school pupils – non-exam groups – will go back a week later, that is from January 18.”
However Mr Johnson suggested these plans could change again depending on rates of infection and added: “I want to stress that depending on the spread of the disease it may be necessary to take further action in their cases as well in the worst affected areas.”
