Over the weekend, reports in the national press speculated that ministers had drawn up plans to re-open schools on May 11.
The reports included suggestions that pupils of different ages would be taught at different times or in alternating weeks, with primary pupils and those in years 10 and 12 being prioritised.
Claims even suggested that schools could be asked to open over the summer holidays.
However, education secretary Gavin Williamson was emphatic in his response when he gave the daily Downing Street press briefing on Sunday, April 19 (DfE, 2020a).
He said: “I want nothing more than to get schools back to normal, make sure that children are sat around learning and experiencing the joy of being at school. But I can’t give you a date.
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