Schools ‘could bring back bubbles after just two positive Covid cases’ for new school year despite mass absences

SCHOOLS could put children back into hated “bubbles” in the new school year after only two confirmed Covid cases, union leaders said.

The Government binned the controversial system after more than one million pupils were kept home in July — but headteachers reportedly are prepared to revive the measure. 

Bubbles proved a nightmare for parents forced to scramble childcare at short notice or be forced to work from home while looking after their kids. 

Many were also concerned about the damaging impact days of missed teaching time is having on children.

But Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), told Daily Telegraph some schools would defy the guidance by reintroducing bubbles after just two confirmed cases.

She said: “Schools can be trusted to make their own decisions rather than be ruled from Westminster.

“Two cases can very quickly become many more than two cases, and we know that Covid spreads rapidly in schools. 

“We do expect bubbles to be reintroduced in those circumstances, and we would hope that parents are supportive of headteachers who make these difficult decisions.”

Headteachers were also advised to delay major action until as many as 10 per cent of staff or kids caught Covid.

New official government guidance states schools were told it was “no longer necessary to keep children in consistent groups (bubbles)”.

Ministers scrapped the bubble system on July 19 after pupil absences soared.

The Department for Education said: “Any decision to recommend the reintroduction of bubbles would not be taken lightly and would need to take account of the detrimental impact they can have on the delivery of education.”