SCHOOLS across England may not take a "uniform" approach to reopening next month, a Government minister today admitted.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said that it remained a "mixed picture" on whether schools would reopen to certain year groups by June 1.

It comes as some councils in the North-East have already said they will not be reopening schools by the date the Government expects it to.

Last week, Hartlepool Borough Council announced its decision as it said coronavirus cases "locally" had continued to rise.

But this morning, Mr Buckland admitted that schools across the country may not reopen by June 1 as some employers faced 'issues.'

He said: "I don't think any of us want to put either children or our dedicated teaching staff in any danger at all, and the question of being safe is clearly paramount.

"So we're all working towards June 1 and planning for that return, but I accept the point that there may well be issues from employers that need to be addressed which might not mean we'll see a uniform approach on June 1.

"It really depends on the views of employers. A lot of councils are direct employers of teaching staff, their views are clearly very important.

"I'm not going to sit here and pretend that suddenly on June 1 everything will be uniform, I don't know, it's my hope.

"But these conversations need to continue and we need to listen very carefully to the concerns of employers and staff."

'A mixed picture'

"We always said that June 1 was conditional, not just on the R rate but on the need to make places of work safe.

"I'm hearing what's being said by a range of different employers and representatives of our brilliant teachers, who are already working with key workers' families and vulnerable children to provide education services - let's not forget that.

"And I think as the picture emerges, we've seen the BMA's (British Medical Association) really helpful advice this morning, I think bit by bit we're seeing a position emerging that, where it is safe and if people feel safe to be able to work in those environments, then that can happen from June.

"But I said the picture is a mixed one at the moment."

Asked about opposition in some local authorities to classroom reopening next month, Mr Buckland added: "We've got to accept the fact that some of the councils, of course, are employers, decisions have to be made collectively, there will be other institutions that feel it is safe to open up. I respect that as well."