Education secretary Gavin Williamson has told parents that school is the best place for their children and that staying away is “a far greater risk” that could put “a huge dent in their future life chances”.

In an open letter to parents, Mr Williamson acknowledges that some families may have concerns about their children attending school in England for the first time since March.

But he insists that schools are safe, detailing measures that have been put in place to minimise the risk of coronavirus infection, including face masks, increased cleaning and home testing kits, and reassures parents the health risk posed to children by Covid-19 is minimal.

“I would urge you to keep in mind that all four of our country’s chief medical officers, including [chief medical officer for England] Chris Whitty, are unanimous in believing the health risk posed by Covid-19 to children is extremely low,” Mr Williamson writes. 

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The education secretary warns that not sending children to school would have a hugely negative impact on their education and childhood.

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“If a child is not in school, they stand to lose far more than just a few months of learning,” he writes. “It could well put a huge dent in their future life chances.

“Education is a birthright, so let’s make sure we get all children back - back to learning, back to playing and back to being kids again.”

Mr Williamson adds that 97 per cent of schools planned to welcome all pupils full-time from the start of the autumn term - which begins in a matter of days - and would be using “all the recommended safety measures to do so”.

He also thanks teachers for the “incredible efforts they have made to keep children on track”.

School staff, however, remain anxious about a full-time return.

Headteachers have hit out at the government for publishing last-minute guidance on contingency planning in the event of local lockdowns.

The Association of School and College Leaders’ general secretary, Geoff Barton, welcomed the plans as a step in the right direction but criticised the Department for Education for publishing them on a Friday night just before schools are set to return.