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The earliest "realistic" point at which schools in England could start re-opening would be 1 June, head teachers' leader Geoff Barton has said.
"We cannot see any realistic way that schools could be re-opened to more pupils before the second half of the summer term," he said.
And "planning would need to begin very soon" in order to meet a 1 June target.
Schools closed their doors to all except vulnerable children and those of key workers over a month ago.
At the weekend, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said no date was set for returning to school, quashing speculation about an imminent return.
The education secretary said if and when five thresholds in the fight against coronavirus were reached, a date could be set for schools to reopen:
- the NHS's ability to cope is fully protected
- the daily death rate is dropping
- infection rates are falling to manageable levels
- there are sufficient supplies of testing and protective equipment
- there is no risk of a "second peak" of infections
But it would not be immediate, with schools expecting a further "lead in" time, possibly of weeks, to prepare for a complicated, staged return that allows them to maintain social distancing.
Parents would also have to be persuaded it was safe.
And already doubt is being cast on schools' ability to maintain social distancing.
- No date set for schools to re-open
- Laptops offered for pupils learning at home in the lockdown
- Families struggle with delays in free school meal vouchers
Katharine Birbalsingh, head of Michaela Community School, in Brent, north London, criticised the "pretence" social distancing might work in schools, with narrow corridors, small classrooms and lots of interactions, particularly between younger children.
"Social distancing in schools is simply impossible," she said.
"We're considered to be the strictest school in Britain and even we would find it impossible."
And there are other questions around safety:
- Would children with family members vulnerable because of health conditions return to school?
- How many vulnerable staff would need to be shielded?
- What protective equipment might be needed for teachers?
Earlier this week, a petition from NHS nurse Iain Wilson warned against any early push to re-open schools.
"Do not make us the global guinea pigs," he said. "It is self-evidently unwise to force hundreds of people into small rooms in small buildings during a pandemic."
Meanwhile, Mr Barton, the ASCL head teachers' union leader, said: "What is crucial is that schools are able to re-open in a manner which inspires confidence among staff, pupils and parents - and that it is as safe as possible."
If schools are to maintain social distancing, they could not run at full capacity, meaning a phased return, such as starting with a few year groups or pupils rotating between studying at home and school.
Mr Barton said it would also mean staggering break times and putting a limit on class sizes.
Robert Halfon, who chairs the Education Select Committee, said primary schools should be the first back. This would help parents and stop disadvantaged youngsters falling behind at an early stage, the MP said.
But Mr Barton said the priority should be Years 10 and 12, who are part-way through GCSEs and A-levels, and Year 6, where children are about to move to secondary school.
And Jules White, head of Tanbridge House School, in West Sussex, asked how classes that have lost so much study time could be expected to sit exams next summer.
Star academy trust chief executive Hamid Patel, meanwhile, said it should be up to each school to decide the order in which its pupils return.
National Education Union joint head Kevin Courtney said: "There is a realistic possibility that schools won't be fully open during the summer term.
"We want to be back as soon as it's safe, but there's a chance that there will be no full re-opening before the end of term.
"There's a responsibility to think about what that will mean for children's education."
But school leaders have repeatedly talked about the importance of getting pupils back before the school year finishes.
And in the meantime, other countries might provide evidence of how a return might work.
In France, primary-school pupils will start to go back, in classes of no more than 15, from 11 May.
And in the Netherlands, they will go back, on a part-time basis, on the same date, with secondary pupils returning from 1 June.
Source : BBC News - Family & Education
Heads say 1 June earliest realistic school opening
Heads say 1 June earliest realistic school opening
