Dozens of Merseyside schools have said they will not be sending pupils home early for Christmas despite having Government permission to do so.

On Monday, Schools Standards Minister Nick Gibb told MPs there should be a “clear six days” ahead of Christmas Eve so teachers and heads do not have to “engage with track and trace issues” throughout the festive break.

Addressing the virtual Education Select Committee, Mr Gibb said: “We are about to announce that inset days can be used on Friday December 18, even if an inset day had not been originally scheduled for that day.”

But many schools say the decision was made too late in the day, and that making the change now would cause disruption.

Lee Dumbbell, head of Norwood Primary in Southport, said it was “the usual lack of forward planning by people who have no concept of school life”.

Mr Dumbbell said: “We will not be closing early because we were told far too late; the reason given by the Government as being ‘to support staff’ is a joke. How does this support them?

“It’s too short notice for parents to change work plans, not to mention we have planned activities to make Christmas fun for the children.

“We already have an inset day planned on Monday January 4, and staff need that day to prepare for the children’s return.

“This is the usual lack of strategy or any forward planning by people who have no concept of school life.”

Tony Lacey, CEO of Oak Trees Multi Academy Trust, which consists of five primary academies in Wirral, including Church Drive Primary, Egremont, Great Meols, Poulton Lancelyn, and Stanton Road, said: “We have taken the joint decision not to close our schools early.

“It’s the right thing to do at this late stage of the term and we want to support our pupils, parents and carers by remaining open as planned.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted Merseyside schools to ask whether they would be implementing the change.

Of the 37 that responded, thirty said they would be open next Friday as planned.

Four said they would be closed on Friday, but that this decision had been made prior to this week’s announcement.

Just three schools – Hilbre High School in West Kirby, The Mosslands School in Wallasey, and Lander Road Primary School in Litherland – said they have opted to close a day early.

More than a thousand Merseyside parents had previously backed calls for schools to close yesterday (December 9) to allow kids to isolate before mixing with elderly relatives at Christmas.

A petition on the Government portal received more than 1,800 signatures from people living in our region.

On December 1, however, a Government response said it remained a “national priority to avoid further disruption to education”.