THE government’s plan for all primary school years in England to return to school before the end of term is to be dropped.

The aim had been for all primary pupils in the country to spend four weeks in school before the summer break, but some schools say they are already full and cannot accommodate more children.

It is no longer thought to be feasible and instead schools will be given “flexibility” over whether or not to admit more pupils.

Lindsey Cooke, headteacher from Hanley Castle High School, said: "The decision to step back from insisting that all children return to school before the summer is one based on common sense.

"Virtually no primary school has the space to accommodate all its pupils whilst maintaining social distancing. The priority must remain keeping children and staff safe, as well as the households to which they return at the end of each day.

"Schools have done an amazing job in responding to the current situation, and it is reassuring that the Government has recognised what is and what is not possible."

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has told MPs that primary schools in England will not be able to welcome all pupils back for a month before the summer holidays.

The minister said he would “work with the sector” as he confirmed the government’s ambition to return all primary schoolchildren to the classroom for four weeks before the end of the summer term had been dropped.

Mr Williamson said the government would like to see schools who “have the capacity” to bring back more pupils where possible before the summer break.

It comes after school leaders, teachers and governors urged ministers to reconsider plans for a full return to primary school - as they said it would be impossible amid capacity issues, staff shortages and social distancing.

Department for Education guidance says school classes should be capped at 15 pupils, but some schools have admitted fewer pupils than this during the phased reopening for the school years Reception, Year 1 and Year 6.

Schools have said they are limited by classroom sizes, the need for social distancing and inadequate staff numbers.