EDUCATION unions have welcomed the government’s retreat from threats and stated willingness to work with them on “practical solutions” to end the coronavirus lockdown for primary school children in England.

Ministers say they want to start reopening primary schools next month, but unions say it is far from clear how staff or pupils are to be protected from infection. Schools have been closed since March.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson made the call to unions during the daily Downing Street press conference on Saturday.

Teaching union NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach welcomed Mr Williamson’s commitment for further talks, saying it was essential ministers provided “clear and unequivocal guidance on the health and safety measures.”

National Education Union joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said Mr Williamson’s promise to monitor effects of this week’s loosening of the lockdown before going ahead with other measures was “sensible.”

England’s deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said the government’s adopted scenario for reopening schools was expected to see a “small increase” in the overall R number — the rate at which the disease is spreading.

On Friday, unions said that a discussion with the government and its scientific advisers offered “nothing” to assure them that schools could be reopened safely and that it had raised more questions than it answered.