SOME primary schools in Widnes and Runcorn will open next week.

With high schools to follow the week after.

Halton Council says school will only open 'when safe'. Schools in most other areas of the country reopened on Monday.

While schools have remained open for key workers during the pandemic lockdown, full year groups can now return.

Some schools in the borough have already told parents that they will begin gradually reopening from June 8.

In most cases, these are primary schools such as Simms Cross in Widnes, which has told parents that some children in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 will be able to come back to school from June 8.

The Grange Academy in Runcorn sent a letter to parents last week saying “support the transition of Reception, Year 1 and Year 6” into the school from June 8.

The letter also said that Year 10 pupils could begin receiving “face-to-face support” from June 15.

Ormiston Chadwick Academy in Widnes has told parents it is also aiming to bring some Year 10 pupils back to school in small groups for face-to-face teaching from June 15.

In a statement last week, a spokesperson for Halton Council said: “Halton schools will not open before June 8 and only then if deemed safe, following detailed risk assessments being undertaken and social distancing and other measures being put in place by each school.”