Some government ministers are reportedly pushing for kids to be sent back to school next month, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Bleak economic forecasts have seen calls for pupils to be back behind their desks by May 11, according to reports.
Experts have predicted a 35 per cent slump in the economy as the lockdown continues, while the draconian restrictions cannot begin to be lifted until children are back at school.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for PM Boris Johnson while he recovers from his own bout of the virus, is likely to extend the lockdown for three weeks on Thursday.
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One cabinet minister told The Telegraph the government "should be beginning to release things that can be released".
They said primary schools and non-essential shops should re-open, adding if people can social distance in supermarkets why can't they do it in other shops.
“We have got to make sure this economic downturn is V-shaped and not L-shaped," the minister said, adding the elderly and vulnerable would likely be kept in isolation for six months, however.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former leader of the Conservative Party, agreed, saying having kids back in school is "key to unlocking labour" - particularly primary schools.
Downing Street is apparently drawing up plans for a slow removal of lockdown measures on a sector-by-sector basis.
But one Conservative source told the Telegraph Eduction Secretary Gavin Williamson was "flip-flopping" on re-opening schools, claiming he is "not really a decision maker".
But they admitted Mr Williamson is "having to balance a lot of competing interests".
The National Education Union, however, has written to Westminster claiming it is "disturbed" by any apparent plans to re-open schools.
Addressed to Mr Johnson, it said: “Given that in re-opening schools and colleges, you would be asking our members to take an increased risk, we believe they have a right to understand fully how any such proposal belongs within an overall Government strategy to defeat the virus.”
When schools were locked down on March 23 - meaning GCSE and A-Level exams were scrapped - there was suggestion they may be shut until September.
However, researchers from University College London have found keeping children out of school has not had much effect on the crisis.
A Government spokesperson said schools will remain closed "until further notice" except for vulnerable pupils and those who are children of key workers.
They added that schools would only open their doors when scientific advice indicated it is "safe to do so" - while the government will "work closely" with the education sector to come to any agreement.
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