Lancashire's schools are being advised to delay opening to more pupils.

The government says it wants to see primary schools reopen to all children in reception, Year 1 and Year 6 from 1 June.

Currently schools are only open to children of key workers and our valuable children, which is how we describe our most vulnerable children. We carefully assessed the government's five tests to the easing of lockdown restrictions to see how they apply in Lancashire, and have concluded that schools should not reopen to more pupils from next week.

The advice has been issued by the Director of Public Health for Lancashire County Council, Dr Sakthi Karunathini and will be reviewed regularly so that schools can reopen to more pupils as soon as it is safe to do so.

Dr Karunathini said: "The safety and wellbeing of Lancashire's children, families and school staff are of paramount importance to us. We have carefully assessed the five tests the government has set for the easing of the lockdown measures and, at this stage, we cannot say with confidence that all of them are being met in Lancashire.

"Therefore we are advising schools that they should not reopen to more pupils from 1 June. We will keep this advice under constant review and, as soon as we believe it is safe for schools to open, we will inform schools and the public."

The decision on whether to open an individual school lies with the head teacher, in consultation with the chair of governors, but we are actively encouraging schools to follow our advice.

For the full advice please see http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/coronav...o-more-pupils/