Very few pupils are now staying at home after lockdown restrictions were lifted.

All of the island’s schools reopened on Monday after the Isle of Man recorded more than a month of no new coronavirus infections. They had been closed for almost three months.

While parents do have the option to keep their children home till September, not many of them seem to have exercised it.

On Tuesday, more than 92% of primary and 86% of secondary age pupils were back in classes.

Dr Alex Allinson MHK, Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, said: ’It is very encouraging to see the numbers returning to face-to-face teaching, meeting classmates, and getting back into a more normal routine. I would encourage all pupils to come back to school. Your teachers have missed you.’

Parents who keep their children at home should still contact head teachers for advice.

Adrienne Burnett, headteacher at Ballakermeen High School in Douglas, said: ’As a result of our government’s assured handling of the Covid-19 crisis, unlike other jurisdictions, our children are able to benefit from specialist teaching.

’Remote learning can never be substitute for that. Children attend school to learn, but it is also where they meet their friends and socialise and the sooner our children return to normality, the better for their wellbeing.’

The government says it will ’fully engage’ with pupils and staff who need or choose to remain at home and will continue to look at remote learning as an option for some.

Dr Allinson added: ’I’d like to thank all pupils and parents for their patience. I would also like to thank all the teachers who have shown incredible flexibility and dedication over the last three months to support their students in the hub schools and at home.

’The overwhelming feedback is that teaches and pupils are excited to be back.

’I am especially grateful for the catering staff, cleaners, caretakers and those working in the special units who have worked hard to get our schools ready and ensured that they will be safe for our young people and other staff members.’

Since reopening all schools have an enhanced cleaning regime and catering staff have been redeployed to enable this.

Packed lunches can be bought from the canteen and will be provided to those eligible for free school meals or can be brought from home.

Schools can make their own decisions regarding uniforms for the remainder of the term.

The pupil attendance figures were:

Primary - Monday 92.36%; Tuesday 92.82%

Secondary - Monday 88.26%; Tuesday 86.56%