Headteachers across West Norfolk have pledged to keep their schools open in January if they can.
They took part in a virtual meeting to plan ahead for a predicted peak of Covid cases and look at how they met the challenge of enough employees if teachers and support staff become ill or have to self-isolate.
Schools will carry out daily risk assessments on staffing levels to make sure classes and year groups as well as the whole school can safely operate.
Children and young people in Year 7 and above at secondary school or academy are required to wear face coverings in class until 26 January at the earliest. In Norfolk children in this age range have been asked to wear face coverings in communal areas, and while using school transport or public transport, but this doesn’t apply to primary age pupils.
 Chris Snudden, Norfolk County Council’s director of learning and inclusion, said: “There was majority agreement that what teachers in Norfolk want is for schools to be open and for children to be learning in the classroom with their friends, taught by their usual teachers and support staff.
 “And there was a real determination to do all we can to fight for this to happen. We completely understand how difficult disruptions are for children and their families when their school, year group, or class closes for any length of time.
“Parents should expect there may be changes to the normal routine in the next few weeks, whether that is different adults teaching their children, slightly different lessons, or a short period of time learning from home.
“Please be understanding and be reassured your school will be doing everything possible to keep any disruption to an absolute minimum.”
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