MORE than 2,800 school pupils in Cheshire East and West were absent before the Christmas break because of coronavirus, estimates suggest.

The Education Policy Institute said the high rate of pupils out of school across England is a continuing concern, with higher absence linked to greater learning loss.

The latest snapshot figures released by the Department for Education estimate that 1,681 pupils in state-funded Cheshire West and Chester schools were absent because of Covid-19 on December 16 – 4.4 per cent of all those in schools which responded to the survey.

Of them, 1,163 were off because of a confirmed or suspected case of the virus.

A further 421 pupils were absent due to attendance restrictions in their school, 50 pupils were required to remain at home or isolate in line with government guidance, and 47 were isolating for other reasons.

Including absences for non Covid-related reasons, 85.9 per cent of Cheshire West and Chester pupils were attending class that day, in the 109 (67 per cent) schools which responded.

This was down from 88.7 per cent on December 9.

Meanwhile, figures estimate that 1,299 pupils in state-funded Cheshire East schools were absent because of Covid-19 on December 16 – 3.9 per cent of all those in schools which responded to the survey.

Of them, 727 were off because of a confirmed or suspected case of the virus.

A further 70 pupils were absent due to attendance restrictions in their school, 145 pupils were required to remain at home or isolate in line with government guidance, and 357 were isolating for other reasons.

Including absences for non Covid-related reasons, 88.6 per cent of Cheshire East pupils were attending class that day, in the 104 (67 per cent) schools which responded.

This was down from 89.7 per cent on December 9.

Across England, 3.7 per cent of pupils were absent for coronavirus-related reasons on December 16 – the most since the start of the school year in September.

Natalie Perera, chief executive of the EPI think tank, said: "Our research has shown an association between pupil absence and higher learning losses, so the high rate of pupils out of school continues to be a concern.

"The Government must closely follow pupil absences this term and consider whether additional financial support to help pupils avoid further learning losses is needed."

A DfE spokeswoman said: "School staff are working tirelessly to ensure classrooms are safe, and it is thanks to their efforts that 99.9 per cent of schools are open once again and millions of pupils have returned to face-to-face learning after the Christmas break.

"We are supporting schools through encouraging former teachers to come back to classrooms and extending the Covid workforce fund for schools that are facing the greatest staffing and funding pressures."