Most primary school pupils will only attend class one day a week next year if the two-metre social distancing rule remains in place.

The Government this afternoon published a report on its planning for the return to school at the end of August.

The report finds the two-metre rule will mean most primary school students can only attend one day a week while most secondary students can only attend two.

NEW: Department of Education guidelines. If 2 metre social distancing has to be observed in classrooms:

- most primary school pupils will only attend school 1 day a week.

- secondary school students just two days a week

— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) June 12, 2020

It notes that, if the rule were to reduced to one-metre, “almost all” prrimary pupils could return for two-and-a-half days each week.

In that scenario, some secondary pupils would return on a “near-full-time” basis while others would return for half the week.

Speaking this afternoon, the Education Minister Joe McHugh said the figures highlight the need for the rule to be changed for schools.

“If we just bring back 20% or 50% of our students in August and September, we could potentially do more damage because of the education neglect and the potential regression as a consequence of that,” he said.

File photo of a toddler playing with toys. Image: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

He said he 'strongly believes' a full return to school at the end of the summer if the only option for children.

“We have looked at the scenarios; we have looked at the reality of trying to do blended learning and home-schooling and it is a very difficult space,” he said.

“From a personal point of view, it can be a very stressed environment when you are trying to juggle work and home-schooling and to consider that potentially two to three days could be at home – it is not a runner.

“I don’t believe it is a runner and that is why we have to work towards getting a full return to school.”

He said vulnerable children would be most at-risk if the rule remains unchanged and said his department is determined to "develop a sustainable plan to fully reopen schools.”

The Health Minister Simon Harris said the rule was likely to remain in place for the wider community; however, schools may be handed different advice to allow for a wider reopening.

Meanwhile, the Government has announced a summer education plan for the most vulnerable children in society.

The Summer Provision programme is normally available to children with special needs; however this year it will open to children with behavioural problems and those with intellectual disabilities.