Desks two metres apart, different teachers to normal and socially distanced play times are some of the measures Leicestershire schools will bring in to keep pupils safe when they re-open at the start of next month.

Coats will be hung on the backs of chairs and bags and lunch boxes stored under the desks of children at one primary school which will also remove soft furnishings and toys from classrooms.

The school told parents there had been a 50/50 split in those wanting to send their children back or keep them at home.

The BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is working to find out what take up has been across the city and county.

Drop off and pick up times as well as breaks and lunch will also be staggered to ensure social distancing rules can be adhered to.

Classes will have no more than 15 children in them. The groups will not mix with any others during the school day.

Boris Johnson set out plans to re-open schools to children in reception, year one and year six on June 1, last week.

Since then schools across the city and county have been busy making arrangements for the return of pupils with some raising concerns about inviting pupils saying it is too soon.

Letters outlining how schools will look and run when pupils are back in class have started to be sent to parents.

Arrangements will vary from school to school depending on whether they are council run or academies but the majority will, it seems, take a similar approach.

One primary headteacher wrote to parents: "The current aims are highly ambitious and it remains to be seen whether they are deliverable whilst keeping everyone safe."

Another school suggested that children in different year groups may be asked to attend on different days. Those with more than one child in school would be taken into consideration if that is the case.

Headteachers across Leicester and Leicestershire have expressed concern about the challenges that re-opening presents and ensuring pupils social distance.

Letters seen by the BBC LDRS suggest that parents will not be fined if they choose not to send their children into school for the end of the summer term.

Pupils in years ten and 12 will be next back, with the government hoping for children in years two, three, four and five, to have a month's education before schools break up for summer.

Work packs will still be made available for pupils who are not going back on June 1.

Schools across the city and county are also looking at using fire doors when children arrive and leave and one way systems.

Health secretary Matt Hancock announced today that all over fives in the UK that show symptoms of coronavirus will be eligible for testing.