More than two-dozen councils in England have said they will support schools that decide not to reopen on 1 June.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants all pupils in reception, year one and year six to start lessons again from the beginning of next month, as the coronavirus lockdown eases.

Mr Johnson has now promised a “world-beating” track and trace system to stop a second COVID-19 peak will be in place before schools in England start to reopen.

But a number of councils have so far said they are either opposed to or cautious about schools opening their doors to students and staff in keeping with that early June deadline.

The 27 councils – nearly all Labour-run – have said they are speaking directly with their local schools about how to manage the return of pupils, warning that safety must be the priority.

Councils that have opposed the reopening of schools, or said they are cautious and talking to schools to ensure they open only when safe to, are:

• Barking and Dagenham
• Birmingham
• Bradford
• Brighton and Hove
• Bristol
• Bury
• Calderdale
• Gateshead
• Hartlepool
• Knowsley
• Leeds
• Liverpool
• Newcastle
• Manchester
• Oldham
• Redbridge
• Rochdale
• Salford
• Sefton
• Slough
• Solihull
• Southampton
• Stockport
• Teesside
• Wakefield
• Wigan
• Wirrall

Darren Rodwell, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said he will “look to my own local authority not to fine any parent for their child’s non-attendance at school until we reach a period of normality”.

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