By political editor Paul Francis

County education chiefs say an estimated 1,100 school staff have been caught up by the disruption caused by the week-long ban on flights to and from the UK.

It says a snapshot of its schools has indicated that 1,146 staff, including 132 headteachers and senior staff, have been unable to return to work after the Easter holidays.

The figures come as flights to the UK resumed today and thousands of travellers began journeys home.

Many staff affected have been accompanying students on study trips while others have been unable to return from Easter holidays.

KCC insisted that despite the absences, it was "business as usual" for its 600 primary, secondary and special schools spread across the county.

In a statement, it said not all schools had responded to its request for details of how many staff had been affected, meaning the actual numbers could be higher.

Of the 1,146, 132 were headteachers or senior staff; 590 were teaching staff and 424 were other staff, such as teaching assistants and administrative staff.

In a statement, Rosalind Turner, KCC managing director for children, families and education, said: "Schools are coping well and we are providing support wherever possible.

"It is very much business as usual for the county's schools.

"They are no different to the many companies that have been affected by the flight ban due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

"All schools will have plans in place to deal with staff absence.

"Headteachers and senior staff will be using these to make the necessary arrangements to cover staff directly involved.

"This situation is beyond the control of teachers or other school staff."

It was a matter for individual schools to decide whether absent staff should be paid, KCC said.

"The advice to governing bodies is to treat this absence in the same way as when it snows and staff are unable to get in to work.

"This is a matter for individual schools to consider."

"Some schools had arranged excursions during the Easter holiday and their return journeys have been affected.

"We are in contact with those schools and they in turn are in contact with the groups and families."

Other children's services run by KCC have been unaffected.

Teaching unions have expressed concerns that their members may be out of pocket and have their wages deducted.

The disruption has not necessarily been all bad news for some pupils.

Brockhill Park Perfoming Arts College in Folkestone said eight members of staff plus two teachers and 10 A-level students who stuck in the Maldives where they are on a school trip.