More pupils are returning to school after coronavirus lockdown

Approximately 67% of education settings that normally have children in nursery, Reception, Year 1 or Year 6 were open to at least one of these year groups on June 11.

This is up from June 4 - the first week that schools in England began admitting more children in these year groups - when just over half (52%) of primary schools opened more widely to pupils.

Approximately 92% of settings were open in some capacity on June 11, up only slightly from 91% on June 4, according to the Department for Education (DfE) statistics.

Around 868,000 children attended an education setting in England on June 11, representing 9.1% of pupils who normally attend, up from 659,000 on June 4.

Attendance was highest among Year 6 pupils, the figures show. Around a quarter (26%) of Year 6 pupils attended on June 11, up from less than fifth (19%) the week before.

A fifth (20%) of Year 1 pupils attended - up from 13% last week - and around 22% of children in Reception went to school, up from 15%, according the DfE analysis.

Schools, colleges and nurseries closed more than 12 weeks ago due to the Covid-19 outbreak, remaining open only for vulnerable youngsters and the children of key workers.

Early years settings also began welcoming back children from June 1, but the latest DfE analysis suggests attendance in nurseries and other early years providers is lower.

Approximately 234,000 children attended early years settings on June 11 - around 14% of the number who usually attend in term time, the report said.

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