Primary schools 'to open as soon as June' as part of Boris Johnson's coronavirus lockdown exit plan

Schools could reopen as early as June, reports say
PA

Primary schools are set to reopen as soon as June 1 as part of Boris Johnson’s coronavirus lockdown exit strategy, The Sunday Telegraph reports.

Meanwhile the Government has said social distancing measures will be eased in line with the rate of transmission or "R" number.

Last week, it stood between 0.5 and one and this has reportedly given ministers optimism that they can reopen primary schools at the start of June.

Schools across the country are closed and GCSE and A-level exams have been cancelled
PA

It comes as deputy chief medial officer Dr Jenny Harries said on Saturday there were “some signs that potentially younger children are less susceptible to disease and potentially transmit it less”.

Based on the current infection rate, the PM is hoping to put teachers on three week's notice to reopen primary schools to all pupils by June 1, Whitehall sources told the newspaper.

Year 10 and Year 12 pupils are then expected to form the first wave of secondary pupils returning to school at a later point as long as the transmission rate remains low, the Telegraph added.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick speaks during a daily news conference to update on the coronavirus disease
via REUTERS

On Saturday, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Home learning is not easy, particularly when one or both parents are trying to work from home as well.”

Meanwhile, the Whitehall source told the newspaper that secondary school pupils can do a lot more at home and online.

"They are not as pressing as primary schoolchildren, who we know need a lot of attention."

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They said move was “crucial for economic reasons, to get things moving, but also for educational reasons”, adding that “early years development is very important”.

Another one of the plans reportedly being discussed to help to reopen workplaces across the country is to ask companies to routinely test asymptomatic staff.

This would be part of the national effort to "test, track and trace" the virus and to isolate those who could be positive.

Meanwhile, secondary school pupils “can do a lot more at home and online. They are not as pressing as primary schoolchildren, who we know need a lot of attention”.

Officials are believed to be working on detailed plans for the safest way to reopen schools, with possibilities including temporary limits on class sizes.

Meanwhile, question of when to reopen nursery schools remains an ongoing discussion.

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