No decision on social distancing plan for when schools reopen
Government medical experts say they have yet to decide how to implement social distancing rules once schools reopen.
Speaking at the Downing Street coronavirus press conference, top medical advisor Jonathan Van-Tam said it would be "very difficult" for schoolchildren to remain two metres apart from each other.
The deputy chief medical officer said it had been the right decision to close schools to stem the spread of Covid-19, but warned that scientists had not yet worked out how social distancing would work when pupils return.
It came as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced the reopening of schools was expected to take place in a "phased manner", with year groups likely to attend school at different stages.
Responding to a question from the Star, Mr Van-Tam said he understood that the lockdown was placing youngsters eager to return to school under incredible "stress and strain".
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He said it was right decision to close schools, warning that the country had to be "very careful" about how and when social distancing measures are relaxed.
"The scientific thinking is not yet complete and is still a matter for study," he said.
"There are multiple permutations we can think of and we have to work through those carefully, one by one, scientifically, and get the best and the most optimised answer we can."
Asked if he thought it would be possible for pupils to adhere to social distancing in schools, he said: "I think that would be very difficult in a classroom of four-year-olds and five-year-olds.
"We have to think through all of those measures and how those might work."
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Speaking to MPs on the education select committee, South Staffordshire MP Mr Williamson said he was keen for schools to return as soon as was safely possible, as he was concerned about disruption to pupils' learning.
"Every child is going to have suffered from not being in school," he said.
"When we bring schools back – and I think everyone wants to see schools returning – they will return in a phased manner," he added.
Ministers are still mulling over which pupils are likely to return first, with Mr Williamson describing the prospect of all pupils going back at the same time as neither "realistic or practical".
