Education chiefs are aiming to get four key years of school children back into the classroom before the end of June.

Minister Dr Alex Allinson was asked to provide an update as to DESC’s plans for children, including those who are not able to return at this time.

School children will be phased back into school with attendance expanded ’as soon as it is safe to do so’, said Dr Allinson.

He said that as many as possible children will be returning to school, but those that can’t will continue to be taught through home learning with books and e-learning being provided by the department.

Dr Allinson added: ’The current timetable is that all schools on the Isle of Man will reopen on June 15 and on June 17, those pupils currently studying at the hub schools will come back to their own school.

’We anticipate then opening up the schools to the key age groups, [years] two and six in primary schools and 10 and 12 in secondary schools. My aim would be to do this from June 22 and then a phased return of the other year groups.

’Obviously we may be able to accelerate that return to schools if the health situation is still stable. But we need that be careful that, if for whatever reason the health situation on the Isle of Man should deteriorate, we can slightly delay some of that transition.’