How many children have gone back?

The prime minister wants all children back in schools by September, but a number have already returned.

Around 868,000 pupils attended schools in England last Thursday, the highest since lockdown was introduced, according to the Department for Education. This means just 9% of the student population having returned, but up from the 2.5% average seen over May.

It is the second week that entire year groups – Year 1 and Year 6 – were encouraged to return to school, although just a quarter of Year 1 pupils did and a third of Year 6 pupils.

Around 40% of the children who were back on Thursday were from “key worker” families. This group has been allowed to attend school throughout the lockdown.

Since nursery, Reception and Year 1 and 6 classes restarted for all pupils, the number of teachers in school has increased to 200,000. However, this figure still only represents just over a quarter of the nearly 720,000 teaching staff typically in work across England.