No penalties for parents who pull kids out of school

But they will be marked as having taken 'unauthorised absence'

No penalties will be handed out to parents who choose not to send their children to school this week due to Covid-19.

Children will be recorded as having taken an 'unauthorised absence' but no other action will be taken.

The Department of Education says it's 'closely monitoring' case numbers and how the number of people being asked to isolate is affecting schools.

Some staff members are already absent, due to the virus, but schools are staying open wherever possible with mitigations in place.