The Government has said the schools can close a day earlier for Christmas holidays but not all will take up the offer Dozens of Merseyside schools have said they will not be sending pupils home early for Christmas despite having Government permission to do so. On Monday, Schools Standards Minister Nick Gibb told MPs there should be a “clear six days” ahead of Christmas Eve so teachers and heads do not have to “engage with track and trace issues” throughout the festive break. Addressing the virtual Education Select Committee, Mr Gibb said: “We are about to announce that inset days can be used on Friday December 18, even if an inset day had not been originally scheduled for that day.”