YEAR nine pupils at St Clere's School in Stanford-le-Hope have been told to stay at home tomorrow (Monday, 14 December) and are unlikely to return until after Christmas.

A message to parents and carers sent this afternoon says: "Over the weekend we have just been informed of a positive Covid case in the year group and a number of staff have also become ill.

"We are asking year 9 to stay home tomorrow and complete on line learning. We will assess the situation first thing in the morning and write again to inform who should isolate. It is likely year 9 will now be asked to not return to school until January."