Schools will remain open despite the threat of Omicron and will only close if there is an “absolute public health emergency”, Downing Street has said.

Earlier, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said he could not guarantee schools would stay open with Omicron spreading quickly across the country.

But Number 10 has now warned local authorities against deciding to close early for Christmas as a precautionary measure.

“There are certainly no plans to put in any restriction on schooling,” the prime minister’s official spokesman said.

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“We’ve always sought to keep face-to-face schooling open and have only restricted it in when there’s the direst public health emergency.

“There’s certainly no plans to do that. We think we’ve got the right balance through Plan B and our big uptick in boosters.”

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Asked whether schools might shut early for Christmas, the spokesman said: “Certainly we do not think anyone should be closing schools early unless they have received advice from the local director of public health that it’s necessary on public health grounds.

“We wouldn’t want to see that happening routinely, just as a precaution, because as I’ve said, education is vital.”

The NASUWT teaching union has called for a staggered return of pupils to schools and colleges in January, as well as additional on-site testing facilities up until the February half-term.

It added that the government should publish further guidance advising schools and colleges to cancel or postpone non-essential activities or events, as well as move to online staff and parental meetings.

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