Department for Education comments on today's attendance statistics

A DfE spokesperson said:

“Schools remain open to vulnerable children and children of critical workers, but if critical workers can work from home and look after their children at the same time then they should do so.

“We also continue to provide devices at huge speed and scale for those children who need them the most, with over 927,000 laptops now delivered to schools and councils. Over 365,000 of these have been delivered since schools closed to most pupils, helping ensure no child loses out while learning at home.

“We are taking every possible measure to reduce covid cases and the protective measures that schools have been following throughout the autumn term continue to be in place to help protect staff and students, while the national lockdown helps reduce transmission in the wider community.”