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Students Return To School As First Phase Of Boris Johnson's COVID Roadmap Kicks In

Pupils on the Isle of Wight are beginning to return to school this morning (Monday) after months of remote learning, under the first step to ease coronavirus restrictions.

All children will be able to head back into the classroom, but secondary schools can stagger the return of students over the week to allow for mass testing.

Secondary school pupils will be asked to take three voluntary COVID tests on site and one at home over the first fortnight - before being sent home-testing kits to do twice a week.

The Department for Education is advising secondary school students to wear face coverings wherever social distancing cannot be maintained, including in the classroom.

But primary school children are not being asked to take coronavirus tests or wear face masks on their return.

It comes as education secretary Gavin Williamson said that longer school days, shorter summer holidays and five-term years are all options under consideration to help pupils catch up on lost learning.

Pupils in England, except children of key workers and vulnerable pupils, have been learning remotely since the start of lockdown in January.

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