It was supposed to be the first day back at school for many youngsters across Greater Manchester, but dozens have been forced to stay home.
With cases of the Omicron variant rocketing, it's having an impact on school staff - leaving some settings no choice but to move to remote learning.
Earlier today we reported how Haveley Hey Community School in Benchill, Wythenshawe, has closed to Year 6 pupils because of 'staffing issues'.
And Moston Fields Primary School, in Moston, has been forced to close to all Reception pupils because of the number of staff testing positive for Covid.
With many schools not reopening until later this week - and still waiting on the last-minute lateral flow test results from staff - it's feared it could be the tip of the iceberg.
Headteachers across Greater Manchester have already warned of weeks of potential disruption amid rising case numbers.
Many have already put in place back-up plans for home schooling and virtual lessons, but the government has once again insisted that any closures should be a last resort.
In an email to schools on Sunday, the Department for Education told headteachers to start preparing for staff shortages by using support staff to fill in gaps, combining classes or using hybrid learning, with some classes taught remotely and some face-to-face.
While it's proved controversial with some - teaching unions in particular saying it increases the potential for in-school transmission - combining different classes is something that was already taking place in some schools before the Christmas break.
Rachael Lucas, head of Bolton St Catherine’s Academy, said that while 'it’s certainly not ideal', it is one solution to maintaining face-to-face learning.
"This is something we had to do before Christmas due to staffing issues," she said. "It's a normal solution we use in schools anyway, not groundbreaking. However some schools will struggle for large enough spaces especially if they have set up testing centres at the start of term. That normally takes out spaces like halls and gyms.
"Schools are not operating in bubbles at the moment so we can mix students as long as we have other mitigations in the risk assessment. The principle ones being increased ventilation and masks."
The Breightmet school isn't reopening until Thursday, but it won't be until then that Ms Lucas knows exactly how many staff will be able to return.
"Nearly 25% of teaching staff have had a positive result over the holidays," she told the Manchester Evening News.
"We have a number of staff awaiting negative day 6 and 7 lateral flow test results before we can confirm if they are able to come to work on Thursday."
Peter Middleman, the National Education Union's north west regional secretary, says the current situation in schools - where secondary pupils are now being told to wear masks in class again - could have been predicted months ago.
He was among those calling for a Plan B for schools and colleges amid fears of the mass disruption the new year could bring.
The promise of 7,000 air filtration units to schools, he says, is too little too late and a drop in the ocean compared with what's needed.
”For the second consecutive January return, headteachers are currently desperately trying to respond to a DfE announcement made over a Bank Holiday weekend when this situation could have been predicted literally months ago," he said.
"The belated recognition of the importance of air filtration is too late and woefully inadequate with 7,000 units promised for 300,000 classrooms in England.
"In December, up to 25% of teachers were self isolating in some places and with the advance of Omicron we should expect that to get worse which means that for the third academic year - and now the third calendar year - avoidable disruption to student's education is looking likely with the blame falling squarely at the door of a dysfunctional government who's rhetoric about priorities is no antidote to the developing crisis in schools and colleges."
He believes that combining classes to keep kids in school could end up making matters worse, adding: "The collapsing classes thing might be the only option is some places, but it isn’t conducive to good teaching or learning and of course, increases the potential for in-school transmission in the absence of other effective control measures - so risks making the situation worse.
"School leaders have been left between a rock and a hard place - again."
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has acknowledged that staff absences would be a 'possible challenge' in keeping pupils in classrooms, but that face-to-face teaching continues 'to be the expected norm' this term.
Announcing the air filters and other measures including mask wearing in class, he said: "Being in the classroom is undoubtedly the very best place for children and I’m looking forward to welcoming pupils back to continue their face-to-face learning, which is so important for their education and well-being.
"There is no doubt that the Omicron variant presents challenges but the entire education sector has responded with a Herculean effort, and for that I thank each and every one of you.
"The Prime Minister and I have been clear that education is our number one priority. These measures will bolster our support schools as we do everything in our power to minimise disruption."
Has your child's return to school been disrupted this week? Are you worried about the impact of Omicron cases on education? Let us know your views in the comments here or email any information to emma.gill@reachplc.com
