Campaigners are calling on Lewisham Council to give "clear direction" to schools that they should not "bow to government pressure to reopen before it safe to do so."

Lewisham's current position is to support schools in making their own decisions, backing those that feel they are not yet ready.

The South East London Coronavirus Action Group is protesting outside Lewisham College this afternoon, urging the Council to take a stronger stance so parents and teachers feel confident keeping children at home.

Maggie Palmer, a UNITE leading activist in the group, said: “The newspaper headlines today, claiming that most schools in England are reopening on 1 June, are deeply misleading.

"Many thousands of schools, including many schools locally, have decided not to reopen.

"Over 60 councils in England have given a clear statement that they believe it is unsafe to go back.

"But the government will be determined to pile pressure on teachers and parents to send children back before it is safe.

"We need to resist this. A clear statement from local councils would give parents and teachers some confidence to keep their children at home."

More than 20 councils across England are advising schools not to open to more pupils from Monday, including Durham, Manchester and Sheffield.

Schools are reopening their doors to more pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, having closed more than nine weeks ago due to the Covid-19 outbreak, remaining open only for vulnerable youngsters and the children of key workers.

The decision to go ahead with a phased return to school from June 1 came after education unions and council leaders urged the Government to reconsider the proposals amid safety concerns.

Lewisham Council has stressed that schools should open "when their risk assessments suggest it is safe", rather than "to meet an arbitrary timetable."

The campaigners say Government plans are "reckless and unsafe" given current infection levels and the absence of a functioning test and trace programme.

Ministers have said their five key tests required for the easing of lockdown have been met.

The prerequisites for lockdown easing were: Ensuring the NHS can cope; a "sustained and consistent" fall in the daily death rate; the rate of infection decreasing to "manageable levels"; ensuring testing and PPE supplies can meet future demand; and ensuring any future adjustments would not risk a peak that could "overwhelm" the NHS.

Protesters are gathering outside Lewisham College at 3pm.