Teachers have blasted the government's decision to reopen schools next week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed today that the government has met its five tests it needed to in order to move ahead with easing lockdown.

Among the first steps of easing lockdown is the reopening of primary schools and nurseries, with children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 returning first.

But there has been massive opposition to the plan from parents, teachers and unions who feel it isn't safe enough for children to be back in the classroom.

Early years teachers in particular have spoken out about the difficulties of young children social distancing and there are concerns over face masks and coverings not being worn in schools.

Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, has hit out at today's decision.

She said: “Government should be bound to protect all of us during this frightening and difficult time. Yet the announcement today about England pressing ahead with wider school opening flies in the face of this duty.

"We are not saying only go back when it is 100% safe. Nothing ever is. But we are saying meet your own tests, produce sound scientific evidence, and return when the time is right to ensure the virus can be contained as much as possible."

She said that most teachers have 'bravely and willingly' remained in schools throughout the crisis, supporting vulnerable children and children of key workers, but says they have not had the reassurances they need that it will be safe to welcome larger groups.

“School staff have many questions which should be answered," said Dr Bousted. "Why, when the rest of the country is still required to observe social distancing, is it safe for schools not to? Fifteen pupils to a class makes social distancing an impossibility in our small classrooms and in particular with very young children who will not understand the concept.

"Denmark, who the government quite rightly praise for their approach to wider school opening has a limit of five children when outside and three when inside."

With the Independent SAGE report saying the decision to reopen schools 'threatens not just the health of school communities but also of wider society’, Dr Bousted said: "We fail to understand why the government would take such risks.

“Time and again we have had to ask for the scientific thinking behind wider school opening. Time and again we have not had the answers.

"The Government's Covid-19 strategy has drifted steadily from dither to disaster. Revelations in recent days have severely damaged public trust, and it is not only troubling but deeply insulting and dangerous to see schools being used as a distraction."

Mr Johnson always stressed that schools would not reopen unless the government's five safety tests were met. These include having reliable data to show that the number of cases is decreasing to manageable levels across the board and that the supply of PPE where needed can meet the demand.

He said the changes being made now 'are limited and cautious' as the country cannot risk ruining the advances that have been made so far.

Despite the government's intention councils across Greater Manchester have varying stances on whether or not children will be able to return to the classroom by June 1, with some, including Manchester and Salford, saying it looks 'highly unlikely'.