Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has outlined the five things that need to happen before schools in the Uk will be able to reopen.
Schools ministers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will make their own decisions on when schools reopen across the UK.
Opening the briefing on Sunday Mr Williamson said: “These are challenging times for all of us and each of us has a role to play in fighting this virus.”
Mr Williamson thanked those in the education sector for keeping schools and nurseries open for children who still need to go to school.
He said: “I’m profoundly grateful for the vital roles they are playing in our communities.”
But he added there is no date yet set for when all other children can return to school.
Mr Williamson said: “People are anxious to know when we’re going to relax restrictions, when schools are likely to be fully back and open again.
“Of course, I want nothing more than to see schools back, get them back to normal, make sure the children are sat around, learning, and experiencing the joy of being at school.
“But I can’t give you a date.
“Because before we do, we need to meet five tests.”
Speaking about the five tests that need to be met before schools can re-open, Mr Williamson said: “First we must protect the NHS’s ability to cope, and be sure that it can continue to provide critical care and specialist treatment right across the whole of the United Kingdom.
“Second, we need to see daily death rates from coronavirus coming down.
“Third, we need to have reliable data that shows the rate of infection is decreasing to manageable levels.
“Four, we need to be confident that testing capacity and PPE is being managed, with supply able to meet, not just today’s demand, but future demand.
“And fifth, and perhaps most crucially, we need to be confident that any changes we do make will not risk a second peak of infections.
“When we can be sure that we have met these five essential points, we can think about getting children into schools again, learning, mastering new ideas and being with their friends once more.”
Mr Williamson praised parents for dealing with home-schooling children during the lockdown.
He said: “I recognise all the challenges that families will be facing at the moment.
“We are determined to support parents who are helping their children learn from home.
“I think we all know how difficult that can be.”
In a direct address to the nation’s school children, Mr Williamson said: “To any young people watching, I wanted to say to you how sorry I am that you’ve had your education disrupted in this way.
“I know how hard it must be, and I’d like to thank you for making the adjustments that you’ve had to make.
“I know you will be missing your friends, your teachers, your lessons.
“I want you to know that you are such an important part of this fight too, and I cannot thank you enough for all that you are doing.”
