CLASSROOM bubbles and staggered school opening and closing times will end as pupils are set to enjoy more freedom as they return to lessons after their long summer break.

Town hall chiefs have issued Covid advice and guidance as all schools reopen on Monday, but have relaxed some coronavirus precautions to give schools a more normal feel.

Ventilation, enhanced cleaning and twice weekly rapid home testing will remain but otherwise pupils will enjoy greater freedom at school, according to education bosses.

Bubbles and staggered start and finish times are no longer advised - while face coverings are no longer required for staff or visitors. Senior school pupils will still be required to wear masks, though education bosses hope that may change in the near future.

Despite the relaxation, parents have been reassured that schools remain safe and attendance is essential for children’s development and overall wellbeing.

And anyone with Covid-19 symptoms must not attend and should self-isolate and book a PCR test, Bolton Council warned.

But anyone under the age of 18 years and six months, who is identified as a close contact of someone with coronavirus, no longer needs to self-isolate and can attend school as normal and will be advised to take a PCR test “as a precaution”.

Council bosses say they are working closely with all education settings to ensure risk assessments are in place and will monitor Covid cases closely, taking appropriate action where necessary.

Detailed advice and guidance ahead of the new term are available on the Bolton Council website.

The Department of Education has also set out the support available to help pupils catch-up after the disruption of the past 18 months.

Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for children’s services, Cllr Anne Galloway, said: “The start of a new school year is always an exciting and nervous time for pupils and their parents,

“This is especially true this year as the more relaxed rules mean children will enjoy greater freedom during the school day.

“I want to reassure everyone that schools remain safe and that robust measures are in place to reduce the risk of infection.

“These new rules will keep disruption to a minimum and allow children to enjoy their education after what has been a difficult 18 months.”

Schools in Bolton remained open throughout the pandemic as teachers supported vulnerable pupils and children of key workers while also preparing resources for those learning at home.

The medical director of Public Health England (PHE) moved to reassure parents as pupils return to classrooms, saying schools are not the “drivers” or “hubs” of Covid-19 infection in communities.

Dr Yvonne Doyle said : “There’ll be extra cleaning and hygiene, advice on ventilation (and) the testing is extremely important.”

She added that authorities had anticipated Covid-19 outbreaks as schools reopened, saying they are “part of normal practice”.