Rules around children and teachers getting tested for coronavirus before schools return

Gavin Williamson said this would enable a ‘track-and-trace approach’ to be taken with any confirmed cases, as schools plan to begin a phased reopening from June 1.

FIGURES: Two more deaths confirmed in Sheffield as further 244 people die across England

He added that based on the medical and scientific advice, the reintroduction of classroom teaching next month was ‘the right thing to do and the only reasonable thing to do’.

Mr Williamson also confirmed he was looking ‘very closely’ at proposals for summer school catch-up tuition, following concerns that vulnerable children were not receiving the education they needed during lockdown.

LOCKDOWN: Everything you are allowed to do from today after UK lockdown rules change

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Williamson said: “On Monday my department published initial guidance for settings on how to begin to prepare and we'll work with the sector leaders to develop this further in the coming weeks.

“This guidance sets out protective measures to minimise the risk of infection, including restricting class sizes and limiting mixing between groups.

“Crucially, all children and staff will have access to testing if they develop symptoms of coronavirus.

“This will enable a track-and-trace approach to be taken.

“When you have medical and scientific advice that is saying it's the right time to start bringing schools back in a phased and controlled manner, it seems only the right thing to do and the only responsible thing to do.”

But Mr Williamson acknowledged that allowing pupils to return to school would be ‘challenging’.

Robert Halfon, Conservative chairman of the Education Select Committee, raised concerns about children falling behind during the lockdown period.

In response, Mr Williamson said: “He's right to highlight the many thousands of volunteers that want to reach out, help our children in order to be able to have the knowledge to succeed in the future, and we're very closely looking at such schemes - working with schools, working with the sector - as to how we can make that available to them.”