HEADS hope schools will re-open before the six-week summer holidays – but only if scientific evidence says it is safe to do so.

Schools closed on March 20, remaining open only for vulnerable youngsters and the children of key workers.

Ministers have given no indication when schools may re-open but there is speculation of a phased return, allowing one or two year groups to return at a time.

National Association of Headteachers’ general secretary Paul Whiteman suggested schools should reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.

But any return to normality will need to be planned, rather than “flicking a switch” and assuming “it’s all going to be all right on a Monday morning”, the association warned.

Bev Williams, principal of Belfairs Academy in Leigh and chief executive of Legra Academy Trust, was hopeful of restrictions being lifted before the summer holiday, but stressed this would only happen if it is safe.

Mrs Williams said: “We are living in unchartered times and an extended period out of the classroom is obviously a concern for us all.

“Across the board, teachers and support staff are working valiantly ensuring young people receive the best possible education in these difficult times.

“However, nothing replaces young people being at school, ensuring there is clear focus.

“We are, therefore, hopeful that the restrictions will be lifted before the summer holiday to ensure children are able to re-acquaint themselves with an educational environment.”

Mrs Williams said Year 6 children moving from primary to secondary schools in September will need support.

She added: This will be a priority because we want these children to be comfortable and ready to learn when they start their careers at secondary schools.

“That said, scientific advice and health and well-being is a priority. We would only re-open if the scientists and public health professionals say it is safe to do so.”

“We haven’t seen any indication yet that the requirements of social distancing are such that things will change for schools in the short term,” he said.

“That said, once the scientific advice is that schools can return safely, they should do so, even if it’s for a very limited period before the summer break, as this will allow young people to reacquaint themselves with the educational environment.

“Any return to normality has to be a planned one. It can’t be about flicking a switch on a Friday night and then thinking it’s all going to be all right on a Monday morning.”

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), told Schools Week: “What we don’t want to do is spook people into thinking schools will be opening in a week’s time, but we do need to start thinking about what it would look like if we get children back for a few weeks in the summer term.

“I feel, quite viscerally really, that if the public health experts indicate that schools can return before the summer holidays, even for two weeks, there will be a sense of educational rebirth, of bringing young people back together.

“We need to think about how you do that, but I think there would be something incredibly cathartic about it.”

School reopening will not happen if public health experts say the timing is not right, Mr Barton added.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), told the PA news agency: “When it is time for schools to reopen it will be very important for that to be planned with teachers and school leaders and for it to be phased.

“However, the National Education Union sees no evidence to justify speculation that this will be soon.

“We think such speculation is unhelpful because if people believe schools are reopening soon then they will be more likely to avoid other restrictions. It’s vital that we stay indoors as much as possible to depress the spread of the virus.”

Earlier this week, a study led by researchers at University College London indicated that school closures do not appear to have a significant effect on the spread of infections during outbreaks such as Covid-19.

Researchers found that school closures alone were predicted to reduce deaths by around 2% to 4% amid the Covid-19 outbreak in the UK, which is less than other social distancing measures.

A spokesman for the Department for Education said said: “Schools will remain closed until further notice, except for children of critical workers and the children who are most vulnerable.

“We will reopen schools when the scientific advice indicates it is safe to do so.”