Boris Johnson has announced primary schools pupils in England in reception, year one and year six, will begin returning to school by 1 June at the earliest, if the rate of infection continues to fall.
As he stuck with the vast majority of restrictions on public life for the time being, the prime minister said “step two” of the government’s potential relaxation of the lockdown involved the partial reopening of schools.
It comes after the government reluctantly ordered the closure of schools, colleges and nurseries on 18 March – just days before the full lockdown was imposed to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Vulnerable children and those of key workers, such as NHS staff, supermarket workers and delivery workers, were exempt from the measures, with some schools remaining open for this group.
Speaking on Sunday evening, Mr Johnson said: “In step two - at the earliest by 1 June - after half term - we believe we may be in a position to begin the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools, in stages, beginning with reception, year one and year six.
“Our ambition is that secondary pupils facing exams next year will get at least some time with their teachers before the holidays. And we will shortly be setting out detailed guidance on how to make it work in schools and shops and on transport.”
The approach, however, only applies to schools in England, as both the Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford and the Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, have said there will not be a return to normal for schools at the beginning of June.
In an address to the nation from No 10, the prime minister added the third phase of the government’s approach will involve some parts of the hospitality industry reopening.
He said: “Step three – at the earliest by July – and subject to all these conditions and further scientific advice, if and only if the numbers support it, we will hope to re-open at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places, provided they are safe and enforce social distancing.
“Throughout this period of the next two months we will be driven not by mere hope or economic necessity,” Mr Johnson added. “We are going to be driven by the science, the data and public health. And I must stress again that all of this is conditional, it all depends on a series of big Ifs.”
