The government has been advised that teachers should avoid contact with colleagues teaching different classes, or who work in different schools, to prevent the spread of Covid-19, it has emerged today.

The guidance, which focuses on the risk of infection in close-contact professions, was prepared by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) on 11 June but published today. It says that to avoid transmitting the coronavirus, “contact should be avoided between teachers and pupils from different classes and especially different schools”.

Related: ‘A fantasy’ to see 1m rule as key to full school return

PM: ‘Full attendance’ in schools next term as 2m rule eased

Williamson: ‘Bubble size may expand to take full class’

It adds that contact should be avoided between teachers and pupils from different classes, “since a teacher and their class is a small network/team”. 

It says that “teachers have contact with many children in their class and so should avoid meeting or using the same spaces as staff who do not have contact with children”.

The guidance follows news that secondary schools may operate “bubbles” of entire year groups when they reopen in September to overcome the problem of keeping pupils in various ability or subject groups apart. 

Headteachers had previously branded the idea that all pupils could return to school in September because of relaxed social distancing rules as “pure fantasy”.