Education secretary Gavin Williamson says the government is “very much looking” at lifting Covid restrictions in schools, especially around bubbles, as part of step 4 of its coronavirus recovery road map.

Step 4, expected to begin from July 19, will see the final stage of broad lockdown restrictions being lifted and is expected to see all legal limits on social contact removed.

Mr Williamson told MPs in the Commons today: “We expect to be able to confirm plans to lift restrictions and bubbles as part of step 4. Once that decision has been made we’ll issue guidance immediately to schools.”

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He added: “When it comes to the summer activities, we want all children to be able to be part of that, whether that’s the holiday, activity and food programmes, whether that is the additional summer schools that schools are laying on.

“And that is why as part of step four we are looking at lifting those restrictions and lifting those bubbles that currently schools have to sort of operate within that guidance of.

“And we’re looking at doing that at the very earliest opportunity so children are able to benefit through the summer as a result of that.” 

MPs including shadow education secretary Kate Green, expressed concern to Mr Williamson that around 375,000 pupils were isolating last week, or 1 in 20 pupils.

Mr Williamson added: “We’re very much looking at lifting the restrictions, especially in terms of bubbles, as part of the next step of the road map…the government is going to, in the very near future, announce the next step of the road map and it will be very much part of that”

However, Ms Green called for urgent clarity on plans to prevent “more chaos for schools and families.” :

“Schools, parents and pupils need urgent clarity. If bubbles will end on 19 July, schools need to know now so they can plan.

“Changing restrictions for 5 days at the end of term, will create more chaos for schools and families. Action is needed now to protect the final weeks of learning this year, but the Government has had nothing to say about supporting schools to put further mitigations in place.

“The Government must stop this drip-feed of information which is wreaking havoc with children’s educations.”

The summer holiday begins for many state schools on July 22.