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Elementary school class sizes should be limited to 15 students, desks should be as far apart as possible, and outdoor space should be used, according to the new government guide.
Department of Education (DfE) guidelines advise schools to stagger break times, as well as drop-off and pick-up times, to reduce the number of students moving.
Schools should also consider introducing one-way traffic, or placing a divider in the middle of the corridors.
The council also suggests that daycare and schools should remove soft furniture and toys that are difficult to clean, and try to keep children in the same small groups at all times each day.
The guide says desks should be as far apart as possible
Those who cannot keep students in small groups have been told to discuss the options with their local authority or trust, with the possibility of sending some children to nearby schools.
It comes after the government’s 50-page recovery strategy for COVID-19 detailed plans for all primary pupils in England to return to the classroom for one month before summer.
The government hopes that the children will be able to return to nurseries and daycare centers, and that Reception, Year One and Year Six students will return starting June 1.
Families who choose to keep their children at home when schools reopen will not face fines.
However, parents will be encouraged to occupy the places, unless the child or a family member is protecting themselves, or the child is particularly vulnerable.
The guide says that most staff in educational settings will not require PPE when opened, but should be used if a student is not feeling well with symptoms of COVID-19 while in the environment.
While acknowledging that many young students will not be able to stay two meters away, the council says the demand for child care is “likely to be less than usual,” which “should allow for small group work.”
However, in some cases, it may be necessary to enter a time limit on the numbers to ensure that security is prioritized.
The DfE has also said that students eligible to return on June 1 will have access to the tests if they show coronavirus symptoms, along with symptomatic members of your household.
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Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “I know how hard schools, universities, early childhood settings and parents are working to ensure that children and youth can continue to learn at home, and I cannot thank them enough for that. “
“But nothing can replace being in the classroom, so I want children to go back to school as soon as it is safe to do so.”
“The latest scientific opinion indicates that more children will be sure to return to school starting June 1, but we will continue to limit the total number at school and introduce protective measures to prevent transmission.”
Paul Whiteman, secretary general of the NAHT school leaders union, said: “It seems very optimistic, to the point of being irresponsible, to suggest that we will be in a position to return all elementary children to school within the next seven weeks.”
