Summer schools and camps could be used to help children catch up on their education after weeks in lockdown.

Education Minister Alex Allinson told a press briefing yesterday that he hoped to make an announcement soon about ’reclaiming our schools’ and allowing key age groups to return to the classroom.

Schools are due to open to staff after half term, on June 15, to allow them to plan changes to how classes are organised, said Dr Allinson.

Two days later, children who currently attend the hubs will return to their old schools.

Discussions will take place over the next week on further plans for the return to school of primary years 2 and 6 and secondary years 10 and 12.

Dr Allinson said he wanted to restart face-to-face teaching.

He said the education service had to examine ’how we move forward without leaving anyone behind’.

’We can’t let our children’s education continue to suffer,’ he said.

’We will need to look at how we can let pupils catch up so they are ready for the start of the next term.

’This may involve providing summer schools and camps by engaging with local communities and using the potential of teachers and volunteers,’ he added.

Dr Allinson said with a ’gradual and organised’ return to school, ’we need to show the schools are safe’.

Requirements of social distancing will mean smaller classes of perhaps just six to 10 pupils. Extra capacity may be needed.

Sports and village halls could be used as temporary accommodation. The department has also been offered the use of marquees.

Dr Allinson said the key thing was not just getting the classes right but having enough staff to run those classes.

Teaching may be done in a slightly different way and one of the ideas being considered is that lessons could be streamed so teachers can cover a couple of classes at the same time.

The Minister said he ’recognised and apologised for’ the lack of trust between the teachers and the department which he had inherited.

’It’s hard to rebuild that when you are on the other side of the screen,’ he said. There had been regular contact by phone or email with the unions, he said. ’We need to move forward together,’ he said.

He said PPE would be made available for use by teachers but neither they or pupils will be forced to wear masks.

One hundred hand washing stations are to be distributed around the schools.