PUPILS will be sent back to school in three weeks time as ministers have drawn up plans to ease the coronavirus lockdown, it has been reported.
It is understood the pupils of different age groups will be taught for only part of the week or every other week to follow social distancing guidelines.
The first pupils invited back would include primary-age children as well as those in Years 10 and 12 who are meant to sit GCSEs and A-levels next year, The Sunday Times reports.
The proposal will be presented to Boris Johnson when he returns to leading the country out of lockdown – which could be as early as next week.
It is understood Mr Johnson will be given three dates for schools reopening: May 11, June 1 or the start of September.
If reopening schools is delayed then students who are due to sit their GCSEs and A-levels next year would have to go to school during the six-week summer break.
There are also said to be plans to push back the exams until July 2021 to make up the time.
The plans to be presented to the Prime Minister are reportedly been drawn up by Dominic Raab, Michael Gove, Rishi Sunak and Matt Hancock.
It comes as there has been growing pressure on the government to outline its plan, with economic paralysis wreaking havoc on jobs and businesses.
Officials are reportedly drawing up a three-stage “traffic light” plan that would see outdoor spaces would be opened first while pubs would be last.
The first stage of the plan would allow for non-essential shops such as garden centre and clothing stores to reopen where social distancing can still be maintained.
It would also see a return to full bus and rail services and the restart of elective surgery in the NHS.
The second stage, which could be in late May or early June, would see more businesses and shops reopen and employees would be encouraged to return to work.
The “best case scenario” could see restrictions eased for non-essential shops from early to mid-May.
The guidelines could again be relaxed by June and July – allowing for pubs and restaurants to reopen by the end of summer.
Over-70s and those who are vulnerable to the coronavirus could be forced to wait until a vaccine is developed before they can resume normal life.
Dominic Raab this weekend confirmed Britain would remain in lockdown for three more weeks until it passes five key tests.
The UK death toll today reached more than 15,000 with more than 114,000 infections up and down the country.
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